General
FG, FOSSREA to Drive Clean Energy With Hydrogen
By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government, through the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, has signed a landmark agreement with the Foundation for Sustainable Social Responsibility in Emerging Africa (FOSSREA) to develop hydrogen energy in the country, marking a significant move towards embracing clean energy.
The agreement paves the way for collaboration between the ministry and FOSSREA aims to promote the development and investment in hydrogen as a future fuel and position Nigeria as a key player in the global hydrogen economy.
According to FOSSREA Chairman, Mr Aliu Hydar Mijinyawa, hydrogen is a key fuel of the future globally, as many countries around the world already had gone very far in deploying hydrogen and were enjoying millions of dollars of investment, hence Nigeria must put its foot forward.
Mr Mijinyawa at the signing of the agreement ceremony in Abuja, said FOSSREA was formed to provide a platform for Nigerians both within and outside Nigeria to give back to the country in various sectors.
He emphasized the need for the country to leverage the opportunity to attract investors and build a strong hydrogen economy, noting that experts within and outside Nigeria would be consulted to share their expertise, and knowledge and to brainstorm on how to lay the foundation of hydrogen in Nigeria.
“Hydrogen is the fuel of the future, and Nigeria must be at the forefront of its development. One key sector we found important that will be beneficial to the country is the energy sector. In the energy sector, we felt that the Ministry of Petroleum Resources should be at the forefront of driving this.
“We believe that it will be an avenue that will be of benefit to the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. It will go a long way in laying the foundation in attracting investors into the country and deploying the value chain of hydrogen to build a strong hydrogen economy.”
Also, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr Nicholas Agbo Ella described the agreement as a “turning point” in Nigeria’s engagement with hydrogen energy.
Mr Ella expressed optimism that the partnership would revolutionize the country’s energy landscape and make Nigeria a force to be reckoned with in the global hydrogen industry.
“We now have a focal point that we can relate with when it comes to hydrogen matters. When I assumed office, I met with the officials of the German Embassy and was briefed on how Germany has gone head-on with hydrogen, acknowledging it as the future fuel.
“It was against this backdrop that I felt there was a lacuna, that we were disconnected from these realities and that it was important that we find a helping hand, a shoulder that we can lean on and that can take the issue of hydrogen forward.
“We can research, harmonize, and exchange ideas that will benefit Nigeria. Hydrogen being the fuel of the future is revolutionizing activities in many spaces and climes and Nigeria can not be left behind,” Ella said.
The Permanent Secretary thanked FOSSREA for driving the hydrogen process and exploring ways that will make Nigeria emerge as one of the forces in hydrogen development in the world.
“As we go about this responsibility, we will be calling upon you from time to time to share your research works, knowledge and expertise with our officers. We want to go hand in hand with you in training and in developing the capacities of the officers in this sphere.”
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria–China Strategic Partnership (NCSP) recently hosted a high-level delegation from Newryton International Industrial Development Company Limited, a leading Chinese investment and industrial development consortium, to advance discussions on deepening bilateral trade, industrial cooperation, and development financing between both countries.
The Newryton delegation, led by Mr David Chen, Assistant Secretary-General of the China Hainan Investment Council, had earlier engaged with the Nigerian Association of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (NACCIMA). They were accompanied to the NCSP by Mr Joe Onyuike, Vice-Chairman of NACCIMA’s Agriculture and Livestock Trade Group, who conveyed NACCIMA’s support for the delegation’s engagements.
Discussions centered on the establishment of a Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform, including a proposed Promotion Centre in China to support Nigerian products, investors, and state governments.
The consortium also presented opportunities within Hainan Province’s Free Trade Port (FTP), which offers preferential policies that Nigerian businesses can leverage to expand exports and attract new investments.
In his address on behalf of Newryton, Mr Pong outlined plans to collaborate with NCSP in accessing FOCAC-supported financing for strategic investments in agriculture, energy, mining, solid minerals processing, and related sectors. The delegation identified aquaculture as a key area of interest and referenced the forthcoming Global Aquaculture Conference in Hainan Province, encouraging Nigerian stakeholders to participate.
They also expressed readiness to strengthen cooperation in vocational training and employment under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Welcoming the delegation on behalf of the Director-General, Martins Olajide, NCSP’s Head of Internal Operations, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
He highlighted NCSP’s strong interest in the proposed Nigeria–China Trade and Investment Platform and the development of the Nigerian Oil Palm Industrial Park as a flagship demonstration project.
Also speaking at the meeting, Ms Judy Melifonwu, NCSP’s Head of International Relations, underscored the opportunities presented by China’s zero-tariff policy and the forthcoming NAQS–GACC protocol on the export of Nigerian aquaculture products. She noted that these frameworks would significantly enhance Nigeria’s competitiveness in emerging global markets.
Both parties expressed commitment to advancing discussions toward a structured cooperation framework covering all priority areas.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The United Kingdom–Nigeria Infrastructure Advisory Facility (UKNIAF), established in 2019 as part of a 16-year legacy of UK-funded infrastructure support to Nigeria, convened over 100 senior stakeholders on Tuesday, December 2, to review its progress and formally close out its current phase of operations.
The event brought together representatives from federal and state governments, development partners, development finance institutions, and the private sector to reflect on UKNIAF’s work across the power, infrastructure finance, and roads sectors. Discussions focused on institutional reforms, capacity development, and the sustainability of tools and processes introduced over the past six years.
Since inception, UKNIAF has delivered targeted technical assistance designed to embed evidence-based reforms, data-driven decision-making, and improved institutional performance. Its interventions have mobilised significant financing, strengthened regulatory and planning systems, and enhanced investor readiness across multiple infrastructure markets.
In the power sector, participants highlighted landmark achievements including the development of Nigeria’s first Integrated Resource Plan, which outlines a least-cost and low-carbon pathway for expanding electricity supply. UKNIAF also supported the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC) in building advanced real-time data capabilities for tariff monitoring, grid management, and outage tracking. The programme enabled pioneering states to establish their own electricity markets following constitutional reforms.
In infrastructure finance, UKNIAF was recognised for strengthening project preparation systems and enabling access to capital. Notable accomplishments include supporting the mobilisation of $75 million from the African Development Bank to the Special Agro-Industrial Processing Zone (SAPZ) programme in two states, and accelerating mini-grid and solar deployment through improved technical standards at the Rural Electrification Agency (REA).
UKNIAF also designed a national project preparation facility, for which N21 billion was allocated in both the 2024 and 2025 budgets to build a pipeline of bankable projects.
Speaking on this, Mr Frank Edozie, UKNIAF Team Lead, described the programme’s close-out as a “handover for sustained delivery,” emphasising that strengthened institutions now hold tools that make Nigeria’s infrastructure landscape more transparent, climate-smart, and investor-ready.
On his part, the Minister of Power, Mr Adebayo Adelabu, commended the programme, noting that its technical assistance and advisory services had helped lay the foundation for a sustainable and inclusive electricity supply industry.
Mrs Cynthia Rowe, Head of Development Corporation at the UK Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) in Nigeria, praised the partnership, highlighting achievements ranging from state-level electricity market reforms to unlocking major financing and designing Nigeria’s Climate Change Fund.
Enugu State Secretary to the State Government, Professor Chidiebere Onyia, underscored the lasting influence of the programme, stating that UKNIAF’s impact continues through the expertise and leadership transferred to national and sub-national institutions.
The close-out event reaffirmed stakeholders’ commitment to sustaining tools, reforms, and knowledge products developed under UKNIAF, while strengthening collaboration among public, private, and development actors in the infrastructure ecosystem.
Participants included federal and state agencies such as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, Federal Ministry of Power, Ministry of Finance, NERC, REA, and the Transmission Company of Nigeria, alongside development partners including the African Development Bank, World Bank, and IFC, as well as private sector and civil society stakeholders.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
The gantry price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, has been slashed by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The Lagos-based oil facility brought down the ex-depot price of the petroleum product by 15.58 per cent or N129 per litre to N828 per litre.
Though the company had yet to release an official statement on this development, real-time market data on Petroleumprice.ng on Friday showed the new price.
Punch reports that data from the platform also showed fresh reductions across several private depots following the refinery’s latest review.
Sigmund Depot cut its ex-depot price by N4 to N824 per litre, Bulk Strategic dropped its price by N3, and TechnoOil slashed its by N15.
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