Sierra Leone oil minister tours Lagos based energy firm amid expansion drive

Foday Mansaray Nigeria energy ties push gains momentum as Sierra Leone petroleum chief calls for stronger collaboration during Lagos visit

The Director-General of the Petroleum Directorate of Sierra Leone, Foday Mansaray, has called for stronger and more sustainable energy collaboration between Sierra Leone and Nigeria during an official visit to OILDEN Energy in Lagos.

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In a statement released on Friday, Foday Mansaray said the engagement provided an opportunity to explore areas of mutual interest, particularly in technology transfer, capacity building and investment expansion within the downstream petroleum sector.

The petroleum chief underscored the importance of regional cooperation in advancing Africa’s energy security and accelerating industrial growth.

He noted that strategic partnerships anchored on sustainability and knowledge exchange would deliver long-term benefits for both countries.

Foday Mansaray Nigeria energy ties, he stressed, must be strengthened through practical collaboration that enhances local expertise and reduces reliance on imports.

He urged West African nations to deepen intra-African trade and leverage shared capabilities to promote value addition across the oil and gas industry.

The Director-General commended OILDEN Energy’s growing footprint in Sierra Leone, stating that the company’s presence has contributed to job creation and improved technical capacity among local professionals.

In his remarks, the Managing Director of OILDEN Energy, Oluwatoni Oladiran, described the visit as a milestone reflecting deepening bilateral relations within the region’s energy space.

He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to operational excellence and to supporting industrial self-sufficiency across West Africa.

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Stakeholders said the engagement signals growing momentum towards enhanced cooperation between Sierra Leone and Nigeria, with expectations of broader collaboration in the near future.

Quadri Olaitan