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Renaissance, Navy Partner to Improve Crude, Gas Production

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Shell Renaissance

By Adedapo Adesanya

Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited and the Nigerian Navy have committed to a partnership to strengthen maritime security that would support improved crude oil and gas production across the company’s operational assets in the Niger Delta.

The commitment was the highlight of a high-level meeting held on Monday at the Nigerian Navy Headquarters in Abuja, where senior executives from Renaissance met with naval leadership to discuss joint efforts to protect critical national infrastructure and ensure uninterrupted energy output.

“Our vision for Nigeria’s energy security is rooted in collaboration,” said Renaissance’s General Manager for Relations and Sustainable Development, Mr Igo Weli. “Working closely with the Navy ensures that our operations are protected and our growth trajectory remains stable.”

Mr Weli, accompanied by Renaissance’s Chief Production Officer, Mr Meshach Maichibi, and other senior executives of the company, restated Renaissance’s commitment to partnering with public and private institutions to support the economic growth of Nigeria through improved oil and gas revenue.

Security remains a key concern for operators in the Niger Delta, where infrastructure sabotage and crude oil theft continue to pose risks to production and personnel. Although the federal government has stepped up efforts to curb the menace, private players are also playing their parts.

Speaking at the meeting, Renaissance’s General Manager for Security, Mr Toye Fatoki, called for enhanced coordination with the Navy to improve surveillance of underwater assets and address maritime threats.

“We are seeing increasingly sophisticated threats to subsea infrastructure and offshore assets,” Mr Fatoki said. “A coordinated response with the Navy is essential, not only to deter criminal activity but to ensure the safe and stable operation of our facilities.”

The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Admiral Emmanuel Ogalla, represented by the Chief of Policy and Plans, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Dewu, welcomed the partnership initiative and reaffirmed the Navy’s commitment to supporting the oil and gas sector. He commended the rapid production turnaround by the company and emphasised the importance of public and private sectors collaboration in achieving national energy objectives and maintaining maritime stability.

At the end of the meeting, both Renaissance and the Nigerian Navy agreed to establish a joint framework for operational coordination, intelligence sharing, and rapid response mechanisms to safeguard oil and gas infrastructure.

Recall that Renaissance acquired Shell’s stake in the Shell Petroleum Development Company earlier this year and has positioned itself as Nigeria’s leading indigenous upstream operators. The engagement with the Navy is part of Renaissance’s wider effort to align with government and security institutions to drive sustainable growth in the oil and gas sector.

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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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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Mining Marshals Reclaim 90 Illegal Sites, Prosecute 300 Offenders

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Mining Marshals

By Adedapo Adesanya

Over 90 illegal mining sites have been reclaimed and 300 offenders prosecuted since the deployment of the Mining Marshals, a specialised task force established to secure Nigeria’s mineral assets.

This information was disclosed by the Minister of Solid Minerals Development, Mr Dele Alake, at the South West Leaders Conference held recently in Akure, the Ondo state capital.

He described the crackdown as a turning point in the battle against mineral theft and insecurity in mining communities.

“We created the Mining Marshals to tackle insecurity and illegal mining head-on. I’m proud to say that peace is returning to our mining fields,” he said.

According to Mr Alake, the initiative has strengthened investor confidence and improved government revenue.

“When you protect the minerals, you protect national wealth. That’s exactly what we’ve done with the Mining Marshals,” he stated.

He noted that beyond arrests and reclamations, the Marshals have restored safety in key mining corridors and curbed the activities of illegal foreign operators. “We are taking back control of our natural resources from criminal networks,” Mr Alake emphasised.

The minister reiterated the government’s commitment to maintaining the momentum through digital surveillance, stronger local intelligence, and inter-agency coordination.

“Our success proves that security is the bedrock of sustainable mining. We will keep refining this model until every site in Nigeria is safe, legal, and productive,” he added.

Launched last year, the marshals were given the mandate to stem theft and all nefarious activities around the nation’s minerals so that benefits are not extracted by the wrong people.

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