General
PETAN Urges Stronger Public-Private Supplies in African Energy Industry
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) has urged stronger public–private supplier collaboration across Africa’s oil and gas industry.
The association noted that Nigeria’s NOGICD Act, implemented by the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has delivered impressive results and raised in-country value retention and local manufacturing from 5 per cent in 2010 to 56 per cent in 2024, adding that other African jurisdictions should adopt this model.
According to PETAN Chairman, Mr Wole Ogunsanya, at the 4th Conference and Exhibition on Local Content in the African Oil and Gas Industry (CECLA) organised by the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO) in Kintélé, Brazzaville, Congo, themed Sustaining Public/Private Suppliers Collaboration in the African Oil and Gas Industry.
The PETAN Chairman, who was represented by the Executive Secretary, Mr Kevin Nwanze, underscored the importance of deepening partnerships to drive long-term growth and competitiveness across the continent.
He explained that the complexity of modern oil and gas projects has made collaboration indispensable.
“Collaboration is no longer a nice-to-have but a must-have for sustainable local content in Africa’s oil and gas industry,” he said.
He noted that the relationship between public and private suppliers must balance collaboration, competition, and regulation, stressing that regulation remains the backbone of any successful partnership.
The PETAN Chairman explained that Nigeria’s regulatory foundation, the NOGICD Act of 2010, has been central to the country’s progress in local content development, implemented effectively by NCDMB.
“The NOGICD Act remains the primary engine driving fairness, transparency, and measurable local content growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector,” he said.
“Nigeria’s in-country value retention has grown from five per cent in 2010 to 56 per cent in 2024, clear evidence that structured collaboration works,” he added.
Mr Ogunsanya argued that collaboration is essential because oil and gas projects require both the financial and technical power of international firms and the community knowledge and contextual expertise of local suppliers.
He warned that without collaboration, countries risk project delays, cost overruns, and minimal benefits to host communities.
“Today’s oil and gas projects are too complex for any single party; without collaboration, delays, cost overruns and poor host-country benefits are inevitable,” he said.
He, however, cautioned that several obstacles continue to hinder cross-sector collaboration in Africa, including weak policy environments, difficulty accessing finance, trust deficits, capacity gaps, and inconsistent operational standards.
“Weak policies, financing gaps, trust deficits, and capacity limitations remain the biggest obstacles to effective collaboration across Africa,” he noted.
He urged African governments to shift from merely setting local content targets to building truly enabling frameworks.
“African governments must move beyond setting targets and focus on creating enabling environments that simplify procurement and expand access to finance,” he stated.
Speaking on the need for transparent procurement systems, open publication of contract awards, and robust oversight structures, Mr Ogunsanya said: “Open procurement, contract publication, and independent oversight are non-negotiable if we want sustainable and trust-driven collaboration.”
On technology transfer, he stressed that private sector commitment is crucial for meaningful progress.
“Technology transfer can only succeed when private companies make a firm commitment to support local suppliers and the change-management process,” he added.
He cited Nigeria’s successful collaboration models, including the engineering consortium on the Egina FPSO topsides, the EnServ–Schlumberger alliance, and the Kwale Gas Gathering (KGG) Hub, noting that all were enabled by the NOGICD Act.
“Nigeria’s major project collaborations, from Egina FPSO engineering to the EnServ–Schlumberger alliance, were only possible because the NOGICD Act provided the regulatory backbone,” he explained.
Looking ahead, he said Africa must build long-term capabilities within local suppliers and diversify into emerging energy technologies.
“True sustainability comes from building lasting capabilities, not just transferring jobs; Africa must invest in skills, innovation, and sector diversification,” he said.
The PETAN Chairman also pointed to emerging opportunities in renewable energy integration, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and decommissioning of oil and gas assets.
“Collaboration will be critical as Africa moves into renewable integration, carbon capture, and decommissioning—skills in these areas will define the next decade,” he added.
Calling on African governments to adopt proven models,he urged policymakers to look closely at Nigeria’s experience.
“What has worked in Nigeria can work elsewhere. The NOGICD model is ripe for adaptation by other African jurisdictions seeking real local content growth,” he said.
He equally emphasized that sustainable progress is impossible without strong regulation and empowered implementing agencies.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The South African Consulate General in Lagos, in partnership with Brand South Africa and the Development Bank of Southern Africa (DBSA), is hosting the 4th edition of the South Africa Focus Week in Lagos, Nigeria, from April 22 – 26, 2026.
The annual platform continues to grow as a strategic initiative aimed at fostering social cohesion between South Africans and Nigerians while positioning South Africa as a preferred destination for business, tourism, and education. Since its inception in 2023, South Africa Focus Week has attracted over 1,500 participants, bringing together stakeholders from across sectors, including trade and investment, arts and culture, tourism, aviation, and the culinary industry.
The 2026 edition holds particular significance as it coincides with the 30th anniversary of South Africa’s democratic Constitution, enacted in 1996, as well as 32 years of unbroken diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria, established in February 1994. These milestones underscore the enduring partnership between the two nations, rooted in shared history and strengthened through formal agreements and ongoing collaboration.
The 2025 economic relationship between South Africa and Nigeria reflects a strategically significant, multi-dimensional partnership anchored in trade, energy security, investment flows, and strong institutional cooperation. While bilateral trade remains structurally imbalanced – with South Africa exporting US$468.48 million and importing $1.69 billion, resulting in a $1.22 billion deficit – this dynamic is largely driven by South Africa’s reliance on Nigerian crude oil, positioning the relationship as one of strategic interdependence rather than imbalance alone.
This partnership is further elevated by the relative economic weight of both countries. According to IMF projections, South Africa’s economy is valued at approximately $443.6 billion, while Nigeria’s stands at around $334.3 billion in nominal terms for 2026. As two of the largest economies on the continent, their bilateral engagement constitutes a central axis of African economic activity, with disproportionate influence on the success of continental integration efforts.
Beyond trade, the relationship is reinforced by deep two-way investment linkages. South African firms -including MTN Group, Shoprite, and Standard Bank – maintain a strong presence in Nigeria, while Nigerian companies such as Access Bank and Paystack have established a growing footprint in South Africa. Although investment flows are asymmetrical and some Nigerian firms have faced operational challenges, these exchanges reflect an emerging bi-directional economic corridor that extends beyond goods trade into services, finance, and digital innovation.
Aligned with Brand South Africa’s mandate to build the country’s global reputation and competitiveness, the week-long programme will convene leaders from government, business, civil society, academia, and the media. Discussions will focus on leveraging the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) as a tool for market access and global positioning, with Nigeria serving as a key focal point.
The South Africa Focus Week has features a series of high-level engagements and cultural activities designed to deepen economic ties and promote collaboration: South Africa–Nigeria Infrastructure Investment Conference (April 22, 2026) which was held under the theme South Africa–Nigeria Partnership: Unlocking Infrastructure Opportunities,” the conference will bring together key stakeholders in infrastructure development to explore collaborative projects in road, rail, and transportation systems.
The forum also examined the role of Public–Private Partnerships (PPPs) and facilitated discussions on project financing and implementation with institutions such as the DBSA and Nigeria’s Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission (ICRC).
This was followed by the 2nd Economic Diplomacy Roundtable (Thursday, April 23, 2026), which was hosted in partnership with MTN Nigeria under the theme Role of Technology in Infrastructure Development, the roundtable will convene senior government officials, private sector leaders, and industry experts to identify investment opportunities and strengthen strategic partnerships.
Friday, April 24, was for Arts and Culture Experience, which is a dedicated cultural day will showcase Lagos’ creative spaces and features a panel discussion on South Africa’s arts, film, music, and culture. The programme includes a South African film screening, engagements with filmmakers, and a networking reception aimed at fostering collaboration between the creative industries of both countries.
The event continues on Thursday, April 25, with Freedom Day Celebration and Closing Ceremony. This commemorative event will celebrate 30 years of South Africa’s Constitution, 32 years of freedom and democracy, and the enduring diplomatic relations between South Africa and Nigeria. The ceremony will also provide an opportunity to reflect on outcomes from the week and outline future areas of cooperation.
The celebration forms part of Brand South Africa’s Global South Africans Programme, which recognises and connects South Africans in the diaspora as ambassadors of the nation’s values and identity.
The week climaxes with the 4th edition of the South Africa Golf Tournament at Ikoyi Golf Club on Saturday, April 26, 2026, which will be done in partnership with Crossflex International.
According to a statement, the event aims to strengthen people-to-people relations through sports diplomacy, bringing together South African and Nigerian golfers in a spirit of camaraderie and collaboration.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The former chairman of the defunct Skye Bank Plc, Mr Tunde Ayeni, has been apprehended by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Spokesperson of the anti-money laundering agency, Mr Dele Oyewale, confirmed the arrest of the businessman on Friday but declined to provide further details, according to TheCable.
Mr Ayeni was accused of diverting the N36.5 billion and $30 million loans from Polaris Bank Limited to companies with which he has links.
He was alleged to have obtained the credit facilities for marine security, electricity distribution, and real estate projects, but moved them to telecom investments tied to NITEL/MTEL assets via a NATCOM account.
After the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) revoked the operating licence of Skye Bank in 2018, it nationalised it to Polaris Bank.
The EFCC has been looking into the alleged diversion of funds by Mr Ayeni, resulting in his arrest in Abuja on Thursday, April 23, 2026.
He is being grilled over the matter and would be arraigned in court once the investigation is concluded.
This is not the first time Mr Ayeni has been nabbed and probed by the EFCC, as this happened a few months after his bank lost its licence.
The then acting spokesman for the EFCC, Mr Tony Orilade, said Mr Ayeni was quizzed by detectives over issues related to fraud and embezzlement allegedly committed by him when he was Chairman of the bank a few years ago.
By Adedapo Adesanya
“We are fully committed to working with the new Commissioner of Police and giving all necessary support towards the successful discharge of his responsibilities.”
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