General
Shettima Sells Nigeria’s $200bn Energy Transition Opportunity to Investors
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, has showcased Nigeria’s $200 billion energy transition opportunity to investors, emphasizing the need for partnerships to maximize the multi-faceted, multi-billion investment opportunities across the country.
Mr Shettima highlighted Nigeria’s sovereign rating by platforms like Fitch and Moody’s implies the country is positioned as the natural hub for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) $3.4 trillion market.
He seized the moment to draw the attention of investors worldwide to the multi-billion, multi-faceted economic resets across Nigeria, as embodied by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr Shettima stated this at the Roundtable hosted by the Business Council for International Understanding (BCIU) with the theme Risk, Reform, Return, held on the margins of the 80th Session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) in New York City.
The VP, representing President Bola Tinubu at UNGA80, highlighted that in this interconnected age, the wealth of any nation is neither achieved through miracles nor inherited.
Showcasing the wealth of the nation, he began by saying that Nigeria is West Africa’s largest economy and Africa’s largest consumer market, with 236 million people today, projected to reach 320 million by 2040.
Beyond being a demographic giant, Mr Shettima pointed out that with a median age of about 17, more than 58 percent of whom are under 30, Nigeria is home to one of the deepest talent pools in the world.
“When you add to this our geographic position as a natural hub for trade between Africa, the Americas, and Asia; our 44 distinct natural resources; our five tech unicorns; the largest oil reserves in Africa; and 210 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, you see that Naija no dey carry last,” he added.
The Vice President told the global audience that since mid-2023, under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria has embarked on one of the boldest economic resets in its history.
He cited the unification of Nigeria’s exchange rates, the removal of decades-old fuel subsidies that distorted the Nigerian economy, the modernization of Nigeria’s tax and customs regimes, strengthened fiscal oversight, and the overhaul of Nigeria’s trade and investment policies as shining examples of the Renewed Hope reforms.
“This reset includes full implementation of the AfCFTA, the roll-out of a National Single Window for trade, a new Investment and Securities Act, an upgraded PPP framework, and modernized bilateral investment treaties. The results are already visible. Our GDP growth is accelerating, our external reserves are strengthening, and inflation is moderating. This is why investor commitments are also rebounding,” he stated.
Stressing Nigeria’s vast economic transformation and potential, Shettima recalled that in April, Fitch upgraded Nigeria’s sovereign rating to B with a stable outlook, and Moody’s lifted its issuer rating to B3 with a stable outlook.
He highlighted that the two rating platforms cited Nigeria’s improved buffers and clearer policy direction as their barometer, adding that this positions Nigeria as the natural hub for the AfCFTA’s 3.4 trillion-Dollar market.
“We have also built a four-pillar incentives framework designed to reduce investor risk, accelerate cash returns, and make Nigeria one of the most competitive destinations for capital in the Global South. A simpler, predictable tax regime now offers clear capital allowances, research and development deductions, and export-linked rebates, while investors in priority sectors can achieve faster breakeven through five percent annual tax credits on qualifying capital expenditure.”
He also shared with the audience that in Nigeria’s Special Economic Zones, the federal government offers duty-free imports, rent concessions, rebates on non-oil export proceeds, and integrated logistics platforms that unlock working capital for exporters.
“Cross-border protections now include updated bilateral investment treaties, investor promotion and protection agreements, structured repatriation pathways, and streamlined FX access. These give investors confidence that their capital and profits are protected,” he said.
The Vice President added that the nation’s Special Agro-Industrial Zones are reducing post-harvest losses by up to forty percent and linking farmers directly to processing and export hubs, transforming Nigeria from a fragmented producer into a continent-scale food system serving millions across West Africa.
On energy, the Vice President disclosed that “With 210 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves and one of the highest solar irradiation levels in Africa, Nigeria offers a 200-billion-dollar energy transition opportunity.”
He stressed that fiscal incentives and VAT waivers are de-risking investment in both traditional and renewable power assets, from gas-fired independent power plants to off-grid solar and clean hydrogen pilots.
Mr Shettima noted that while Nigeria faces $1 billion annual gap in transport, ports, and power infrastructure, through InfraCorp and the Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority, the government is blending sovereign and private finance to fund metro lines, dry ports, and industrial corridors, building the backbone of West African trade and creating long-term revenue streams for investors.
“Special Economic Zone clusters now host over five billion dollars in installed industrial capacity, with backward-integration incentives and AfCFTA corridors opening a multi-billion-dollar continental market. These reforms are transforming Nigeria into Africa’s production floor and innovation lab,” he said.
The Vice President maintained that Nigeria hosts forty-four commercially viable minerals worth over seven hundred billion Dollars under a new beneficiation and security regime.
He said investors can secure early positions in lithium, gold, bitumen, and rare earths critical to the global green transition.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has sealed two fuel stations in Ogun State engaging in under-dispensing of petroleum products and non-compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021.
Leading the enforcement team around the Akute-Ajuwon axis of the state, the Head of Distribution Systems Storage and Retailing Infrastructure, Mr Olufemi Adebowale, said the move became imperative in view of repeated breaches of regulatory requirements by the affected stations and the need to protect the rights of consumers from sharp practices.
According to him, the development is part of its ongoing efforts to enforce compliance with industry regulations, protect consumers from sharp practices, and ensure that petroleum marketers dispense the correct quantity of products across the state.
He explained that records available to the authority showed that the fuel stations have consistently violated regulatory compliance by under-dispensing petroleum products, illegally breaking official seals placed on the facility, and resuming operations without authorisation.
According to him, such actions amount to a violation of the Petroleum Industry Act 2023 and undermine efforts to protect consumers from exploitation.
“The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority is carrying out a lawful enforcement on this facility. Our records have consistently shown that this company has been violating regulatory compliance.”
“It is high time we made it clear that they cannot continue to under-dispense products, deliberately remove our seals, and believe that nothing will happen; that is why we are here to enforce the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2023 he said.
“When it comes to under-dispensing, they are cheating members of the public by not selling the correct quantity of fuel. Also, once a station is sealed, it has no authorisation to operate. But this station deliberately removed our seal and continued operations, which is against the law.”
Mr Adebowale disclosed that the authority has been monitoring the station’s activities since 2025, describing the violations as persistent despite several enforcement actions.
He revealed that the affected station had been sealed no fewer than six times within the period, but continued to remove the authority’s seals and ignore invitations extended by the regulator.
“From our records, this has been happening since last year. The station has also refused to honour our invitations. It has been sealed not less than six times, yet it keeps removing our seals and resuming operations.”
On the sanctions awaiting the operators, Adebowale said the authority had served the stations with enforcement notices, while the facilities would remain shut until all stipulated conditions are met.
He added that the NMDPRA management would also consider suspending the operating licence of the affected stations, while also sending a strong warning to any fuel station intending to go against the rules of PIA.
“That is against the rules. They do not have any right to operate until we authorise them to do so. This is a clear deviation from regulatory compliance. According to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), when this happens, we must carry out enforcement, and that is why we are here today.
Beyond conducting this exercise, we are also using this opportunity to address the public through the media. As long as operators are doing the right thing, they have nothing to fear. However, for those going against compliance levels—whether through under-dispensing or direct violation of our seal—all necessary enforcement, penalties, and sanctions will be strictly applied against such offenders.”
“A letter has been served, the station has been completely shut down, and they must meet all the conditions, including payment of the applicable penalties. We are also looking at suspending the operating licence, subject to management’s approval,” he said, warning that any further attempt to tamper with the seals or resume operations illegally would attract criminal prosecution.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) says it has moved to reduce port gridlock by releasing trucks into Apapa and Tin Can ports in scheduled batches based on terminal demand, while enforcing strict rules against indiscriminate parking on port access roads.
The General Manager, Lagos Port Complex, Mr Debo Lawal, said the NPA management, led by Managing Director, Mr Abubakar Dantsoho, was committed to ending indiscriminate truck parking around the ports and aligning operations with global best practices.
He said the authority was working with Truck Transit Parks Limited (TTP) to regulate truck movement into terminals through a phased release system.
According to him, trucks will now be released in scheduled batches based on terminal demand, instead of allowing all approved trucks to enter the port corridor simultaneously.
“If a terminal requires 100 trucks, they will not all be released at once. They will come in batches to reduce pressure on the port access roads,” he said in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday in Lagos.
Mr Lawal said a joint task force had been clearing Apapa and Tin Can port access roads since June 26, 2026, operating until about 8 pm daily to prevent indiscriminate parking.
He added that another clearance exercise would soon be conducted to sustain the gains and prevent a return to the persistent gridlock that previously characterised the port corridors.
The port manager, however, urged truck operators to support the initiative by exiting the port environment immediately after loading or offloading cargo.
He noted that some truck drivers still parked along access roads after completing port operations, despite repeated engagements by the authority.
“We engage truckers and their leadership every day, but enforcement will continue alongside sensitisation to ensure compliance,” he said.
On infrastructure, Mr Lawal said the federal government, through the NPA, had begun payment of the five per cent counterpart funding required for the 726 million dollar port rehabilitation project.
He disclosed that preliminary activities, including borehole drilling and site investigations, had been completed, while contractors were expected to mobilise to the site before the end of July.
According to him, a technical stakeholders’ meeting was held on July 7, while a broader stakeholders’ review was scheduled for July 13 to assess progress and address implementation gaps.
Mr Lawal said the rehabilitation project, alongside ongoing reforms, was aimed at reducing cargo clearance time, eliminating documentation bottlenecks and improving operational efficiency at the nation’s seaports.
He added that the National Single Window project was about 80 per cent completed, with a dedicated office already established near the port to improve inter-agency coordination.
According to him, the digital platform will integrate banks, the Nigeria Customs Service, shipping companies and other government agencies to improve efficiency, plug revenue leakages and enhance revenue collection.
Mr Lawal expressed confidence that improved digitisation, reduced human interference and more efficient truck management would strengthen Nigeria’s trade competitiveness and enhance operations at the Apapa and Tin Can ports.
By Adedapo Adesanya
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has said the implementation of the Defined Benefit Scheme Pension Harmonisation is a reform meant to advance and enhance pension payment equity in the country.
The chief executive of PTAD, Mrs Tolulope Abiodun Odunaiya, said this initiative was a landmark reform designed to restore fairness, improve retirees’ welfare and strengthen confidence in the administration of the country’s legacy pension system.
The harmonisation exercise marks one of the most significant policy interventions in the Defined Benefit Scheme since PTAD was established in 2013 to take over the management of pensions under the old federal pension arrangement.
Unlike periodic pension increases that merely raise existing benefits by a percentage, she stressed that pension harmonisation was further than that by recomputing pensions using the latest approved salary structures that existed before the closure of the Defined Benefit Scheme.
She noted that the objective is to ensure that retirees who held similar positions and rendered comparable years of service receive equitable pension benefits regardless of their retirement dates.
The initiative comes against the backdrop of years of agitation by pensioners over historical disparities in pension computation.
She added that the PTAD’s harmonisation programme seeks to resolve that challenge by restoring parity within the system. According to her, pension harmonisation is the formal recomputation of pensions using approved salary structures applicable before the DBS cut-off date.
In practical terms, it ensures that pension outcomes are determined by rank, grade level and years of service rather than the year of retirement.
The Directorate believes the exercise will significantly improve social justice by correcting historical inequities that disadvantaged thousands of retirees.
The harmonisation applies primarily to pure Federal Government pensioners as well as eligible retirees under the Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD), Defunct and Transferred Agencies Pension Department (DTAPD), and the Education and Health Pension Department (TEHPD), particularly those who initially served under the Federal Government before their agencies were transferred to state governments.
