The 2026 annual energy conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) is set to take place in Lagos on October 8. The conference will feature Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo; and Minister of Power, Joseph Tegbe, as headline speakers. They will join senior energy-sector officials, including regulators and the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari.
The conference, themed “Access to Assets: Empowering Players and Driving Growth,” aims to examine investment trends, regulatory reforms, and structural barriers limiting the growth of indigenous operators in Nigeria’s energy sector. This follows the 2025 edition, which focused on Nigeria’s energy future and sustainable growth. The event will bring together policymakers, regulators, financiers, and industry leaders to discuss ways to drive growth and improve efficiency in the sector.
Other notable participants include Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan; Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Rabiu Umar; Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Felix Ogbe; and Managing Director of Nigeria LNG Limited, Olaleye Falade. The lineup was confirmed in a statement by NAEC Chairman, Ugo Amadi, and Conference Chairman, Adeola Yusuf.
The conference will explore ways for indigenous operators to scale operations, attract investment, and drive sustainable growth. Discussions will cover frontier exploration opportunities, changing investment trends, and policy frameworks needed to improve efficiency and restore investor confidence. The event aims to set the industry agenda as Nigeria pursues its $1 trillion gross domestic product target by 2030.
Amadi stated that discussions would interrogate ongoing regulatory reforms aimed at removing bottlenecks, strengthening transparency, and improving Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global energy market. The conference’s panel sessions will feature a range of stakeholders across the oil, gas, and power value chain. Sessions will focus on setting new performance benchmarks and advancing practical solutions to industry challenges.
Yusuf emphasized the critical role indigenous companies play in advancing Nigeria’s energy security and economic development. The conference will focus on dismantling structural barriers limiting the growth of technically capable indigenous companies and improving their access to high-value oil and gas assets amid shifting investment priorities by international oil companies.
The conference is expected to provide a platform for stakeholders to engage and discuss the future of Nigeria’s energy sector. With a strong lineup of speakers and participants, the event is poised to drive meaningful conversations and outcomes that can shape the industry’s future. The NAEC conference has become a significant event in Nigeria’s energy calendar, and this year’s edition promises to be insightful and impactful.
Key points
- The 2026 NAEC energy conference will feature top Nigerian energy ministers discussing investment trends and regulatory reforms.
- The conference aims to drive growth and improve efficiency in Nigeria’s energy sector.
- Indigenous companies will be a key focus, with discussions on scaling operations and accessing high-value assets.
