Olu Verheijen, Special Adviser on Energy to President Bola Tinubu, announced that Nigeria has attracted over $8 billion in investments for deepwater and gas final investment decision (FID) projects within the past year. Speaking at the 2025 Africa CEO Forum in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Verheijen credited the achievement to President Tinubu’s bold and strategic policy decisions. She noted that the investments were driven by improved fiscal incentives, faster contracting processes, clarified local content regulations, and reforms in the power sector that enhanced gas-to-power viability.
Verheijen encouraged African industry leaders to follow Nigeria’s lead, emphasizing the importance of shifting from dependency-based appeals to becoming an investment hub through clear policies, commercial logic, and deliberate strategy.
“Africa must partner smartly, not from dependency, but from aligned strategic interest,” she said.
“Nigeria has been able to prove that this approach works. We moved from gridlock to greenlight, and investors responded.
She highlighted a major milestone in the country’s energy sector, citing an increase in indigenous equity in gas projects from 69% to 83%, a significant step toward greater African ownership of the continent’s energy resources.
Verheijen also called on African investors, DFIs, banks, pension funds, and sovereign wealth entities to stay focused and step in where international oil companies are pulling back, offering tailored financial tools and risk-sharing models.
“Our sweet spot is onshore, shelf, and domestic gas. That’s where African players must dominate, because we understand the terrain, the risk, and the reward,” Verheijen said.
She also praised African private sector companies such as Seplat, Oando, and Renaissance for evolving beyond local status and making a mark on the global energy stage.
