Namibia has expressed interest in leveraging Nigeria’s expertise to develop its rapidly growing oil and gas sector, particularly in exploration activities in Walvis Bay.
Speaking at the Fifth Session of the Namibia-Nigeria Joint Permanent Commission of Cooperation in Windhoek, Penda Naanda, Executive Director in the Ministry of International Relations and Cooperation, emphasized Namibia’s commitment to enhancing collaboration in key economic sectors, including oil and gas.
“We therefore look forward to expediting our cooperation in areas such as works, transport and marine cooperation; trade, finance, investments and SMEs development, mines, and renewable energies, as well as oil and gas,” Naanda stated.
He highlighted that the partnership aims to unlock investment opportunities and facilitate knowledge-sharing between the two nations.
Ambassador Akinremi Alade Bolaji, Nigerian Co-Chair of the Commission, underscored the significance of energy collaboration in driving economic growth for both countries.
“Our engagement will extend to key sectors such as solid minerals exploration and energy, where we envision joint ventures in oil exploration in Walvis Bay and uranium mining, as well as trade facilitation in salt, meat, cement production, textiles, and garments,” Bolaji said.
Namibia has emerged as a key oil exploration hotspot following a series of significant offshore discoveries in recent years.
Although the country has yet to commence oil and gas production, industry giants such as TotalEnergies, Galp, and Shell have made substantial finds, with first production anticipated by 2030.
The country’s Orange Basin has been the focal point of recent discoveries, while other promising areas for exploration include the Lüderitz, Kavango, and Walvis basins.
Namibia’s push for collaboration with Nigeria, a leading African oil producer, is expected to accelerate its path to becoming an oil-producing nation.
