Economy
NipeX GM Lauds Nigerdock Activities on SIIFZ
By Dipo Olowookere
Operations of leading indigenous energy services provider, Nigerdock, and the available facility at the Snake Island Integrated Free Zone (SIIFZ) have been described as a paradigm of Nigeria’s great prospects and impact on Africa.
General Manager of Nigerian Petroleum Exchange (NipeX), Mr Kanayo Odoe, identified this during his recent courtesy visit to SIIFZ, the location of Nigerdock’s world class facility.
Mr Odoe noted that Nigerdock and its activities on SIIFZ represent the prospects of Nigeria across Africa. In his words: “Snake Island is a manifestation of all that is good in this great country Nigeria. It is my earnest hope on behalf of the people of this great nation that all the support we can muster to make the organisation great will be given to your good organisation. Be reassured of our highest support and commitment in bolstering your organisation for the overall benefit of Nigeria. Keep up the good work.”
He was conducted on a tour of the facility by Group Corporate Affairs Director, Mrs Joy Okebalama; Nigerian Content Manager, Nigerdock, Ifeanyi Chime; Senior Project Manager, Nigerdock, Temitope Odulate, among others.
The tour covered various areas of Nigerdock’s diverse business operations such as Logistics Base Infrastructure (Quaysides, Marshalling Yard, Water and MGO Storage, Laydown areas, Warehouses, Accommodation, Related Equipment, etc.); Ship Repair and Maintenance Facilities (Dry Dock and Floating Dock, Cranes, Workshops, etc.), Offshore Fabrication Facilities (Covered Fabrication Workshops, Coating Shops, Warehouses, Laydown and Erection Areas, etc.), the recently rebranded Nigerdock Training and Development Academy and a significant array of equipment such as various specifications of Cranes, SPMTs, Fabrication Equipment, etc.
Mr Odoe was impressed with the in-country capacity and capability available at Nigerdock and noted that: “The facility is great and offers world class standards. It is quite remarkable that apart from the fact that Nigerdock is impacting on Local Content through the training and development academy, it is also gratifying to know that a lady who heads the Machining Workshop has spent over 24years in the organisation.”
During a brief presentation to the NipeX GM, Mrs Okebalama explained that SIIFZ has a significant number of Free Zone Enterprises currently operating within the zone. These enterprises provide a wide range of activities including full EPCIC contract delivery, manufacturing, offshore logistics support services, pollution management and recycling, aviation services, engineering/design services, construction, fabrication, ship maintenance & repairs along with an array of maritime support services thereby making it a one stop shop for oil and gas related activities. These enterprises operating in SIIFZ have brought and will continue to bring significant added value to SIIFZ and the Nigerian Economy.
SIIFZ is strategically located at Snake Island Apapa, with immediate access to the open sea, and within proximity to Tin Can Island Port Apapa. SIIFZ was established in January 2005 when Presidential Approval was granted for the commencement of Free Trade Zone operations on Snake Island.
While commenting on the impact of NipeX to the oil and gas industry, Mr Odoe noted that free and fair tendering process, healthy competitive environment and high confidence and trust have been established in the oil and gas industry through NipeX.
NipeX is an electronic one-stop transaction centre that improves on value procurement in the oil and gas industry and institutionalizes world-class contracting processes in Nigeria. NipeX is a division of NAPIMS, a Corporate Service Unit of NNPC.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The Stanbic IBTC Bank Nigeria Purchasing Managers’ Index (PMI) for the Nigerian private sector in July 2026 contracted to 52.5 points from 53.4 points in June 2026, a statement made available to Business Post has shown.
This occurred despite the business environment sustaining its growth last month, with an increase in new orders experienced, as inflationary pressures softened, and output and employment modestly rising.
The Head of Equity Research West Africa at Stanbic IBTC Bank, Mr Muyiwa Oni, said the PMI indicated that the private sector recorded its slowest since March 2026, as businesses also increased their input purchasing activity to keep up with current demand requirements and prepare for future workloads.
“Nigerian businesses reported improved customer demand in July while better pricing and new product launches also helped them to capture new orders arising from the increase in demand. These factors helped to keep the private sector activity in an expansionary territory, although this moderated when compared to June,” he was quoted as saying.
It was stated that while input costs increased at their slowest pace in five months, panellists reported higher costs for fuel and raw materials. Selling prices also softened in line with the picture for input costs in July.
Headline inflation eased slightly to 15.91 per cent y/y in June from 15.93 per cent y/y in May, snapping three consecutive months of price increases.
Although July inflation is likely to be higher m/m, it is expected to print lower, likely at 15.72 per cent y/y, primarily driven by favourable base effects from the corresponding period of last year, because there are no expectations of the magnitude of m/m inflation witnessed in July 2025 (1.99 per cent) to materialise this year.
“We retain our 2026 growth forecasts at 4.1 per cent as we see the oil sector growing by 3.45 per cent y/y in 2026, from 8.50 per cent y/y in 2025, while the non-oil sector is likely to grow by 4.11 per cent y/y, from 3.71 per cent y/y in 2025.
“The risks to our outlook include country-wide insecurity which may constrain food production, exchange rate pressures resurfacing, extreme-weather related conditions and higher fertiliser prices impacting crop yield, and a volatile global environment which may affect sentiment and constrain capital flows,” Mr Oni noted.
By Adedapo Adesanya
Sahara Upstream, a Nigeria-focused crude producer, has deployed a new 380,000-barrel tanker to boost exports from the OML 18 block as part of a wider push by domestic operators to invest in infrastructure and lift output and exports for Africa’s biggest oil producer.
The MT D Adesanya, which can hold more than 62,000 cubic metres of crude, will operate alongside the MT D Bayero, receiving crude from shuttle vessels at Bonny Anchorage, one of Nigeria’s main crude export hubs, before transferring it to the FSO Cawthorne storage facility.
Sahara said the tanker would help cut turnaround times, currently about 30 to 48 hours, and support a planned 50 per cent increase in exports from the block’s current level of about 950,000 barrels per month.
The block currently produces about 36,000 barrels per day, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), with Sahara targeting output of 60,000 barrels per day.
OML 18 is one of the Niger Delta’s oldest producing assets. It began production in 1970 and contains an estimated 1.5 billion barrels of oil equivalent in reserves.
Shell, Total and Eni sold their combined interests to Eroton in 2015 as part of a broader shift toward domestic ownership in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
This development comes as Sahara Upstream is deepening its exploration and production footprint through Asharami Energy Limited (AEL), its upstream E&P business, which says it is targeting 350,000 barrels of oil per day by 2030 through its subsidiary, Enageed Resources Limited (ERL).
The growth target comes as AEL also marks a major safety milestone, achieving 6 million Lost Time Injury (LTI)-free man-hours in its OML-148 operations — reinforcing the company’s commitment to operational excellence and safety leadership.
According to Asharami Energy, the milestone reflects its ability to execute complex operations safely, in line with Sahara’s Beyond XXX vision, which builds on the group’s 30-year legacy of responsible enterprise while marking its next chapter of impact, innovation, and sustainable growth.
The developments position Sahara Upstream and its subsidiaries among the domestic operators driving increased investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas infrastructure, as the group works to scale up production and exports for Africa’s biggest oil producer.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
One of the leading energy firms in Nigeria, Aradel Holdings Plc, has expressed its desire to optimise its enlarged portfolio and improve operational efficiency in the second half of 2026.
The company is planning to build on the success it recorded in the first half of the year, where it grew its revenue by 577 per cent to N2.5 trillion from N368.1 billion in H1 2025.
The significant rise in earnings was driven by higher production volumes together with stronger realised crude oil and gas prices, with the average at $90.4/bbl and $2.08/mmscf, respectively.
In the period under review, the Earnings Before Interest, Taxes, Depreciation, and Amortization (EBITDA) increased by 688 per cent to N1.4 trillion from N176.4 billion in the corresponding period of last year, while the operating profit surged by 789 per cent to N1.1 trillion from N118.6 billion due to higher revenue and crude handling income at N149.8 billion, partly offset by underlift cost and general and administrative costs.
The net cash generated from operations was N975.6 billion between January and June 2026 versus N140.8 billion in the same period of 2025, reflecting the cash generation of the enlarged organisation.
The net debt contracted by 70 per cent on a year-to-date basis to N46.5 billion from N475.1 billion as of December 31, 2025.
Aradel, in the period under consideration, improved its post-tax profit by 30 per cent to N191.0 billion from N146.4 billion, a development that impressed its chief executive, Mr Adegbite Falade, who said, “A firmer price environment supported performance, generating net cash from operating activities of N975.6 billion and a closing cash balance of N1.7 trillion.”
“Our enlarged portfolio provides more opportunities to generate stronger cash flow and returns for shareholders and unlocking that potential is our main focus.
“We reaffirm our full year production guidance of 110 – 140 kboepd and remain committed to operating responsibly in a changing energy landscape and to delivering lasting value for our stakeholders,” he stated.
