AFREC trains 23 Nigerian officials to improve energy statistics

ABUJA, Nigeria – Twenty-three Nigerian energy officials have received specialised training in energy statistics reporting as the African Energy Commission (AFREC) steps up efforts to improve the accuracy and reliability of energy data across African Union member states.

The three-day national training workshop, held from October 28 to 30 in Abuja, brought together participants, including eight women, from four departments of Nigeria’s Energy Commission (ECN).

The training aimed to strengthen Nigeria’s capacity to compile, validate and report accurate energy statistics using AFREC’s Energy Balance Questionnaire, which helps countries organise and interpret information on energy production, transformation, supply and consumption.

The workshop followed an online technical session conducted in September, which focused on completing and interpreting the AFREC Energy Statistics Questionnaire.

Participants were trained in energy balance flows, energy product classifications, units of measurement and quality assurance procedures. They also took part in practical exercises on compiling, reconciling and validating energy data, identifying gaps and improving the accuracy of national energy balances before submission to AFREC.

Mr Abdoulaye Oueddo, Acting Head of AFREC’s Energy Information System and Statistics Division, said strengthening the capacity of African Union member states to produce timely, accurate and comparable energy statistics remained central to the commission’s mandate.

He said reliable energy data were essential for evidence-based policymaking and effective energy planning.

“Through this training, AFREC is working with Nigeria to improve data quality assurance and strengthen national coordination mechanisms for energy statistics,” Oueddo said.

Dr Olugbemi Toyin, Director of the Energy Information System at ECN, said reliable energy statistics were fundamental to national energy planning, policy formulation and decision-making.

He said the training provided an opportunity to improve the technical capacity of staff to compile, validate and report Nigeria’s energy balance data systematically and consistently.

Toyin added that stronger collaboration among departments within the Energy Commission, alongside closer engagement with AFREC, would improve the quality and completeness of national energy statistics.

The initiative also supports the African Energy Information System (AEIS), AFREC’s continental platform responsible for collecting, processing, analysing and disseminating energy data from all 55 African Union member states.

Through the platform, AFREC seeks to harmonise energy statistics and improve access to comparable information to support national, regional and continental energy planning.

The collaboration between AFREC and ECN is expected to contribute to stronger national statistical capacity, improved energy policy analysis and data-driven energy governance.

It also supports progress towards Sustainable Development Goal 7, which seeks to ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all.