As the 42nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) got underway in Lagos on Monday, the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) has canvassed industry-wide support for initiatives that would reverse negative trends in Nigeria’s energy sector.

The Executive Secretary, NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, made the assertion in a paper entitled “Resolving the Nigerian Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustained Growth, and Affordability”.

He identified “alarming scale of pipeline vandalism and theft of crude oil” as the biggest threats to Nigeria’s energy security, noting that major oil and gas projects are required as well as a robust security strategy based on mutually beneficial collaboration with host communities.

To achieve the above objectives, the Board has undertaken to work with stakeholders in the industry to dedicate one week in every calendar year to signing Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) on new projects, as prospective investors could be motivated to act expeditiously to meet agreed-upon deadlines and regulators are similarly encouraged.

Engr. Ogbe noted that FDIs would “catalyze new projects in the Nigerian oil and gas industry,” and that fruitful collaboration amongst stakeholders and NCDMB would actualize the intentions of the Presidential Directives rolled out in March 2024 by The Presidency, and thus “fast-track the contracting cycle and incentivize investments in our sector.”

The NCDMB boss, who was represented by the General Manager, Corporate Communications and Zonal Coordination, Esueme Dan Kikile, Esq., suggested that the FDI Week be incorporated into any of the major oil, gas and energy conferences held in the country.

According to him, the Board holds a similar biennial event called Nigerian Oil and Gas Opportunity Fair (NOGOF), which is attended by all the international and indigenous operating companies to share awareness of opportunities and projects to be executed.

On the Board’s strategy to create a safe and secure operating environment for oil and gas companies and thus eliminate the huge costs associated with vandalism and attacks on personnel and installations, the Executive Secretary disclosed that NCDMB has introduced a new policy known as “Back to the Creeks Initiative.”

According to him, “We are convinced at the Board that the incessant tampering with crude oil pipelines and hostilities in oil-producing communities have a huge impact on energy security,” and that the new initiative is geared towards curtailing incidences of disruptions of oil industry operations through targeted interventions. These include execution of corporate social responsibility projects in communities, provision of affordable finance to local contractors, upgrade of basic educational facilities in villages and communities, building the capacity of teachers and improving the infrastructure at that level.

The initiative, whose details would soon be publicized, is expected to create a stakeholder feeling in host communities and make them view industry assets around them as facilities that are bound up with their socio-economic well-being.

Such an orientation would translate into safety of assets, increased crude oil production, drastically reduced security costs and more favourable pricing of petroleum products, he added.

Shell will continue to power progress in the drive for energy security in Nigeria through its businesses in the Upstream, Midstream and Downstream and Renewables sectors.

This view was shared by the Country Chair, Shell Companies in Nigeria and Managing Director, The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Ltd (SPDC,) Osagie Okunbor in Lagos, on Tuesday.

It was contained in remarks delivered on his behalf by Exploration Manager Gogo Eneyok at the opening of the 42^nd Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE).

Okunbor maintained that the range of the Shell businesses were integrated across the energy value chain and working hard to address the challenges as captured in the theme of the event: “Resolving the Nigeria Energy Trilemma: Energy Security, Sustainable Growth & Affordability.”

ALSO READ: How Oil Cabals Crippled Govt Refineries, Now Scheming Against Dangote Refinery – Pastor Adeboye

In addition to the SPDC, the other Shell businesses in Nigeria include, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Limited (SNEPCo,) Shell Nigeria Gas (SNG,) Daystar Power and All On as well as Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG,) in which Shell has 25.6% interests.

Okunbor stated, “Shell, working with government, regulators and stakeholders, is actively participating in finding a pathway through the energy trilemma. We are focused on generating maximum value and cash to power the country.”

Referring to efforts towards low and zero-carbon products to market, he said, “Shell is deploying latest technologies in reducing emission in our operations and we are well on track to meet our forecasted Green House Gas reduction targets.

”SNG is also increasing domestic gas delivery through its distribution network of 150 kilometers in Nigeria while Daystar and All On are giving individuals and communities access to cleaner and affordable energy.

Okunbor however, pointed out that for these and other efforts and investments to achieve the desired results, government had to improve the regulatory environment with continuous improvement in the provisions in the Petroleum Industry Act. “The menace of crude theft and illegal refining must also be tackled to safeguard the nation’s resources and protect the environment,” he added.

The opening ceremony of the NAPE conference featured a tour of exhibition stand by the executive members of NAPE. He and other dignitaries were conducted round the Shell stand by Magdalene Umoh, a Senior Production Systems Engineer.

She gave an insight to the milestones of Shell businesses in Nigeria including social investments and development of Nigerian contractors and vendors. The Shell stand is complemented by a well-staffed medical team which is attending to participants and visitors for the duration of the four-day conference.

Energy policy expert, Yemi Adeoye has suggested that a second term for former U.S. President Donald Trump could present significant opportunities for African leaders, particularly in the realm of energy development.

Speaking on TVC News on Monday, Adeoye emphasized that Trump’s focus on reducing global regulations and prioritizing the U.S. economy could allow African nations to better leverage their natural resources without the constraints of climate policies that have historically been imposed by Western powers.

READ MORE: Sustaining Achievements Of NPFL Calls For Consistency

“Looking at Africa as an economic bloc, I think it will be good, especially when you look at our energy concerns,” Adeoye said.

“I think his administration would be okay because Mr. Trump is very focused on reducing the United States’ global regulations. His focus is more on the internal economy of the United States, and that is his major focus.”

Adeoye pointed out that Trump’s economic strategy has typically been centered around protecting and boosting the U.S. economy, particularly in comparison to economic competitors like China and Western Europe.

“If you look at his comments about the U.S. economy, it has always been ‘America first’—how he is going to grow the economy internally,” he explained.

“He is not really bothered about blocs that are not economic competitors or contemporaries of the United States. Africa is not competing with the U.S. Africa is not an economic contemporary of the U.S., so he is not bothered about Africa.”

On the issue of climate change and energy policies, Adeoye noted that Trump’s historical stance of downplaying climate concerns could be advantageous for African nations looking to develop their energy sectors.

Adeoye said, “He’s not going to impose the climate change policies on Africans. Trump, during his last administration, did not really bother about Africa. He is not concerned about climate change; he even said it was a hoax that it was not real, and he is in full support of fracking.”

Adeoye explained that Trump’s support for shale fracking, a controversial method that has boosted U.S. oil production, could have a ripple effect on global energy markets.

“Shale fracking, which we know has environmental issues, is fully supported by Trump because it is going to grow the United States’ oil production significantly,” he said. “In fact, global oil production should grow by about 10% if shale fracking reaches its full potential.”

He also pointed out that Africa contributes only about 3.8% of global greenhouse gas emissions, much lower than major emitters like China and the U.S. “Africa’s emissions footprint is very low, and that means our mineral resources are being underutilized,” Adeoye said.

“What we probably do majorly is export them across the world. We can now use these resources to develop because our greenhouse gas emissions are so low.”

In this context, Adeoye stressed the importance of Africa being allowed to fully develop its natural resources without restrictions.

He highlighted Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to advocate for the right to utilize its mineral deposits, a message reinforced by President Bola Tinubu at international platforms like the United Nations. “Nigeria has been campaigning in all the major global energy conferences that Africa should be allowed to develop the continent with its mineral deposits,” he said.

In addition, Adeoye urged African leaders to seize the opportunity presented by a Trump presidency, emphasizing that his policies could help unlock the continent’s energy potential.

“I think Trump is an opportunity for African leaders to be very strategic,” he said. “He is not going to impose regulations on them. For all we have seen, we can take it that he would not want to impose regulations with regard to gas emissions or climate change.”