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Nigeria Issues First Petroleum Exploration License Under PIA

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Petroleum Products

By Adedapo Adesanya

Nigeria has granted its first exploration licence, a Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL), to TGS-PetroData Offshore Services Limited (TGS-PD) two years after the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) was signed.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Commission (NUPRC) said this was in compliance with the provisions of Section 71 (1) – (10) of the Act (PIA) signed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2021.

The PEL, it said, is the first under the PIA 2021 and is under the licence agreement which the commission and TGS-PD executed for a Geophysical Survey Project for the acquisition of about 56,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic and gravity data.

According to a statement signed by the chief executive of the NUPRC, Mr Gbenga Komolafe, the development was another milestone in the smooth implementation of the PIA for the attraction of investment in the oil and gas sector in Nigeria.

Without data, the NUPRC said reserves cannot be auctioned for development and revenue attraction.

“Data acquired under the PEL is not proprietary but speculative/multi-client survey data acquired in partnership with the NUPRC. The licence therefore authorises TGS-PetroData Offshore to carry out non-exclusive Petroleum Exploration Operations on a multi-client basis within the licensed area and permits the use of the acquired 3D seismic and gravity data by exploration companies.

“Due to the specialised nature of the Geophysical Survey Vessel to be used for the acquisition of the 3D seismic and gravity data, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) granted no objection to TGS-PD to deploy the facility.

“The acquisition of the 3D seismic and gravity data commenced on July 17, 2023, and the processed data will be available for use by mid-2024,” the agency said.

The scope of the Geophysical Survey Project includes Phase 1 acquisition of about 11,900 sq. km of new 3D seismic and gravity data in water depths ranging from 30m to 4000m offshore Niger Delta.

According to the NUPRC, acquiring seismic and gravity data at the same time will improve the correlation of identified structures and reservoirs.

It added that the scope also includes a record length of 14 seconds, which is the first of its kind in Nigeria and will help image deeper reservoirs that have not been done offshore Niger Delta before now.

“The acquired seismic and gravity data will be processed using the latest TGS proprietary technology. The acquired data will be licensed to exploration companies.

“The commission listed one of the benefits that Nigeria will derive from the new 3D seismic and gravity data acquisition as the availability of new regional 3D seismic and gravity data in deep waters ranging from 30 meters to 4000 meters offshore Niger Delta.

“The commission has the sole right and title over the acquired raw and interpreted data to be obtained by the licensee (TGS-PD) under a petroleum exploration licence. Therefore, the 3D seismic and gravity data belongs to the Nigerian government.

“Based on section 71(7) of the PIA, the commission and federal government shall benefit from the revenue that will be generated from the data use licence that will be granted to interested exploration companies by TGS-PD.

“The new 3D seismic and gravity data being acquired will further provide an opportunity for understanding the regional petroleum system of the ultra-deep waters of Nigeria and unlock the hydrocarbon prospectivity of Nigeria’s frontier basins (Ultra-deep offshore),” it stressed.

According to the NUPRC, the 3D seismic and gravity data when acquired will be useful in future deep water licensing rounds which will attract Foreign Direct Investments (FDIs) into oil and gas exploration in Nigeria as well as create opportunities for increasing oil and gas reserves and production.

The NUPRC stated that it will further create opportunities for Nigerian content development and employment of Nigerian professionals.

Adedapo Adesanya is a journalist, polymath, and connoisseur of everything art. When he is not writing, he has his nose buried in one of the many books or articles he has bookmarked or simply listening to good music with a bottle of beer or wine. He supports the greatest club in the world, Manchester United F.C.

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Dangote Refinery Commences Free Delivery of PMS January 2026

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dangote pms delivery

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

The free delivery of premium motor spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, across the country by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery will finally begin in January 2026. This was earlier scheduled for August 2025

This move, according to the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), will bring down the price of the product in Nigeria.

The group has, therefore, urged all its members nationwide to patronise the Lagos-based private oil facility because it offers the best affordable price for all marketers.

Dangote Refinery has agreed to directly supply PMS to registered members of IPMAN, according to a statement signed and issued by the organisation’s president, Mr Abubakar Maigandi Shettima.

At a press conference held in Abuja yesterday on recent happenings in the oil and gas sector, IPMAN also applauded the support of the Chairman of Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Mr Aliko Dangote towards the federal government, which it noted has become evident in the regular reduction of the petroleum pump price.

“The association has the highest percentage of the supply chain of the PMS downstream sector, controlling over 80 per cent of the petrol retail market. We therefore declare that there will be no gap or scarcity in PMS supply to Nigerians.

“We are also excited at the recent agreement by the Dangote Refinery to begin the supply of PMS products directly to registered IPMAN members, and its free delivery to our filling stations anywhere and everywhere in Nigeria which will commence in January 2026.

“This will again, certainly lead to further decrease in the pump price of the products at our filing stations.

“Therefore, I am calling on all IPMAN members nationwide to prioritise patronising the Dangote Refinery in their purchase of PMS products, as they already offer the best affordable prize for all marketers today,” the group stated.

“At IPMAN we have no doubt as to the viability of the oil and gas policies being initiated by the federal government, and we have ceaselessly called and sought for enhanced cooperation across all levels of governance in the oil and gas sector. Hence, our repeated persuasion to always partner the Dangote refinery, to ensure the steady availability of PMS products.

“The focus of the Dangote & IPMAN partnership, has always been geared towards making life better for Nigerians. And of course, this blooming partnership would never have been possible without the pragmatic leadership of President Bola Tinubu, and his sound judgment in readjusting the leadership of the NMDPRA and the NUPRC.

“Our position has always been to deepen domestic refining in order to eradicate imports of petroleum products. Continuous import is NOT an acceptable parallel business model, because issuing import licenses recklessly distorts market dynamics, drains foreign exchange, enthrones poverty, destroys jobs, and scares potential investors away,” Mr Shettima was quoted as saying in the statement.

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Swedfund Puts Down $20m for Green Business Growth in Africa

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Green Business Growth

By Aduragbemi Omiyale

About $20 million has been put down by Swedfund to support efforts that limit climate change in Africa and help communities adapt to its effects.

The funds would be deployed by the Helios Climate, Energy, Adaptation and Resilience (CLEAR) Fund to back African companies that reduce emissions, strengthen resilience and create green jobs.

Swedfund’s investment is expected to contribute to significant cuts in greenhouse gas emissions and to help businesses and small farmers adapt to a changing climate.

The investment strengthens Swedfund’s work to drive a sustainable and inclusive green transition in Africa.

Africa contributes less than 3 per cent of global carbon emissions but faces some of the most severe climate impacts. At the same time, the continent’s energy demand is expected to triple by 2050.

Swedfund’s investment in Helios CLEAR will help channel capital to businesses that drive low-carbon growth in areas such as renewable energy, sustainable transport, climate-smart farming, efficient use of resources and digital climate solutions.

“By investing in this sector, we can reduce emissions, build resilience and create green jobs, all vital for sustainable growth that benefits more people.

“Africa currently receives only a small share of global climate investment, yet the potential for climate-smart business is enormous.

“Through Helios CLEAR we help build the next generation of African climate-focused businesses,” the Investment Director for Energy and Climate at Swedfund, Ms Gunilla Nilsson, stated.

Helios CLEAR Fund is a Pan African growth equity fund managed by Helios Investment Partners, one of Africa’s leading private equity firms.

The fund targets investments that deliver measurable climate mitigation and adaptation outcomes. The fund is supported by multiple development finance institutions.

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Lawmaker Alleges Alterations in Gazetted Tax Laws

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Abdussamad Dasuki

By Modupe Gbadeyanka

A member of the House of Representatives, Mr Abdussamad Dasuki, has alleged that the gazetted tax laws are different from the ones passed by the National Assembly.

Speaking on Wednesday during plenary at the green chamber, the opposition lawmaker the emphasised that content of the tax laws as gazetted was not what members of the parliament debated, voted on and passed.

In June 2025, President Bola Tinubu signed the four tax reform bills into law, becoming an act. The new laws are the Nigeria Tax Act (NTA), 2025, the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA), 2025, the Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Act (NRSEA), 2025, and the Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Act (JRBEA), 2025.

In September, they were gazetted by the federal government.

On the floor of the House yesterday, presided over by the Speaker, Mr Tajudeed Abbas, Mr Dasuki, while raising a matter of privilege, after reviewing the gazetted law and what was passed, he found out some discrepancies, appealing to the Speaker to ensure that all relevant documents, including the harmonised versions, the votes and proceedings of both chambers, and the gazetted copies currently in circulation, are brought before the Committee of the Whole for scrutiny by all members.

He warned that allowing laws different from those duly passed by the National Assembly to be presented to Nigerians would undermine the integrity of the legislature and violate constitutional provisions.

“Mr. Speaker, I will be pleading that all the documents should be brought before the Committee of the Whole.

“The whole members should see what is in the gazetted copy and see what they passed on the floor so that we can make the relevant amendment. Mr Speaker, this is the breach of the Constitution.

“This is the breach of our laws, and this should not be taken by this House,” Mr Dasuki said when rising under Order Six, Rule Two of the House Rules on a Point of Privilege.

In his remarks, Mr Abbas promised that the parliament would look into the matter.

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