In a big boost to the development of Nigerian content in oil and gas operations, Shell Companies in Nigeria awarded contracts worth $518 million to indigenous companies in 2025.

Biztellers reports that in the same vein, some 123 indigenous companies were engaged across the value chain of Shell businesses in Nigeria in the same period.

“The payments show a strong support for Nigerian service providers in our operations,” said Vice President Commercial Rohan D’Souza while commenting on the figures recently published in Shell’s 2025 Payments to Governments Report. “We see the development of Nigeria companies beyond compliance with laws. It is an integral part of a longstanding strategy to create a win-win relationship with indigenous companies and support them to create more value in the oil and gas industry within and outside the country.”

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Over the years, Nigerian companies have provided technical and logistics services among many others with Shell businesses supporting them to improve their expertise and processes.

About a fortnight ago, Shell Nigeria Exploration and Production Company Ltd (SNEPCo) launched a $3-billion Contract Finance Facility with nine leading Nigerian banks to support indigenous contractors to execute contracts in its operations. The fund will be available in both Naira and USD to be utilised by the contractors.

Rohan pointed out: “When you consider the fact that Shell also paid some $2.016 billion through production entitlements, royalties, taxes, and statutory fees to the Nigerian Government in 2025 alone, you get an idea of the enduring partnership we have forged in the country since we set foot here more than 60 years ago.”

The Dangote Group has received the coveted Road Safety Corporate Excellence Award for its outstanding contributions to safer transportation and accident prevention initiatives from the Kogi State government, in Lokoja.

Similarly, the Pan-African conglomerate received the commendation of road transport industry operators for its sustained support for initiatives aimed at reducing traffic accidents and safeguarding lives.

According to the government which presented the award, it was to celebrate the Group’s outstanding contributions to promoting safer roads, supporting accident prevention initiatives and advancing collaborative efforts aimed at protecting lives along one of Nigeria’s most strategic transportation corridors.

The award was presented before a gathering of government officials, road safety regulators, transport operators, industry leaders and other stakeholders, where participants explored innovative solutions and partnerships required to reduce road crashes, improve traffic management, and strengthen safety standards across the state and beyond.

Kogi State Commissioner for Transport, Hon. Atuluku Victor Levi, who presented the award said it underscored the company’s growing reputation as a champion of safe transportation practices and its commitment to partnering with government and regulatory agencies to improve road safety outcomes across Nigeria.

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According to him, the recognition highlights the company’s longstanding collaboration with the state government and road safety agencies to promote responsible road use, enhance driver safety awareness, and support initiatives that strengthen Nigeria’s transportation ecosystem.

“As one of Nigeria’s largest industrial conglomerates and a major user of the nation’s road network, the Group has continued to champion safety standards across its logistics and transport operations.

“Kogi State occupies a strategic position within Nigeria’s transportation ecosystem, serving as a vital transit corridor linking several states and geopolitical zones. The state’s road infrastructure facilitates the movement of people, goods and services across the country, making stakeholder collaboration critical to reducing road crashes, improving mobility and supporting economic growth”, he stated.

Receiving the award on behalf of the Company management, Abdullahi Aliyu, Assistant Divisional Director, Dangote Cement Transport (DCT), Obajana, thanked the Kogi State Government and road safety stakeholders for the recognition saying the recognition would only spur the Group to do more to support road safety initiatives.

“This award reflects Dangote Group’s unwavering commitment to safety as a core value across all our operations. We remain dedicated to supporting initiatives that promote safer roads, protect lives and contribute to sustainable economic development” Aliyu said, adding that road safety remains a shared responsibility requiring continuous partnership between government, corporate organizations and road users.

“At Dangote, we believe that every journey should end safely. We will continue to invest in safety awareness, driver training and responsible transport practices that help make our highways safer for all users,” he stated.

Reaffirming the company’s commitment to maintaining high safety standards within its transport operations, Aliyu pointed out “safety is not just a regulatory requirement; it is an integral part of our corporate culture. We are committed to strengthening collaborations that improve road safety outcomes and reduce preventable accidents across the communities where we operate.”

Furthermore, the Dangote Cement Transport Director said the recognition aligns with the Company’s broader sustainability agenda and supports the objectives of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as reinforcing the Group’s reputation as a responsible corporate citizen committed to promoting safer roads, protecting lives and contributing to sustainable development in Nigeria.

“At Dangote, Road safety is a collective responsibility, and partnerships such as these are crucial to saving lives and strengthening Nigeria’s transport system. Our goal extends beyond business operations; it is about creating safer communities and sustainable mobility for everyone.”

Meanwhile, Stakeholders at the conference commended private sector organizations that have consistently supported road safety campaigns, noting that meaningful partnerships between government and industry are essential to addressing transportation challenges and improving public safety.

It would be recalled that the Dangote Cement Transport recently launched an ultra modern drivers lounge at its Ibese plant in Ogun state, where its drivers could rest and refresh before and after every trip to promote their well being.

Murilo Silva, the Head of Dangote Cement Transport urged the drivers to make maximum use of the lounge to eliminate fatigue by resting well and be in sound mind always

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) claimed that it saved $3.4 billion through contract restructuring and optimisation between April 2025 and July 2026.

Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, made the assertion in Abuja at the opening of the 25th Nigeria Oil & Gas (NOG) Energy Week, while highlighting the impact of ongoing reforms aimed at improving operational efficiency, reducing costs, strengthening partnerships, and enhancing value delivery to the federation.

Ojulari also stated that the national oil company had maintained full compliance with its joint venture cash call obligations.

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According to the scorecard presented by the NNPC Ltd, the $3.4 billion cost savings were realised through contract restructuring and optimisation initiatives across the company’s operations.

The reforms also contributed to an increase in government revenue, with the NNPC Ltd reporting a government take of N19.5 trillion, representing a 21.8 per cent year-on-year increase.

Besides, a major highlight of the report was NNPC’s 100 percent compliance with its joint venture cash call obligations across all its joint ventures from Financial Year 2025 to June 2026.

However, the company’s partners recorded a blended compliance rate of just 61 percent.

Of the 27 joint venture partners, only six were fully current with their obligations, while 13 recorded partial compliance with an average payment rate of 72 percent, and eight remained in significant default, paying an average of only 14 percent, prompting Joint Operating Agreement remedies.

The NNPC Ltd said it remained committed to sustaining its cash call obligations to support Nigeria’s target of achieving two million barrels of oil production per day.

Operationally, the company reported a six percent increase in crude oil production year-on-year and an 8.1 percent rise in gas production over the same period, reflecting improvements in upstream operations.

Ojulari also highlighted several strategic partnerships concluded since the last Nigeria Oil and Gas Conference, including a long term gas supply agreement with Nigeria LNG, progress on deepwater investments valued at over $20 billion, refinery related partnerships, industrial gas projects, and new gas supply arrangements.

Looking ahead, the company identified seven priority projects expected to drive production and gas infrastructure growth through 2027.

These, it said, included the UTM Floating LNG project, the OB3 East West Connector, the AKK gas pipeline, refinery technical enhancement projects, the Zabazaba deepwater development, the Owowo field, and the BSWAP project.

The state oil major added that the combination of cost optimisation, stronger operational performance, improved infrastructure reliability, and strategic partnerships would reinforce Nigeria’s energy security, boost government revenues, and support sustainable growth in oil and gas production.

Ojulari said the national oil company achieved 98 percent recovery across five crude export terminals between April 2025 and May 2026, up from one per cent at Bonny in June 2022.

He put current output at 1.71mbpd, the highest in five years, with the NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL) hitting a record 365,000 bpd.

Gas production, he said, reached 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscf/d) following the River Niger crossing on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Pipeline and inauguration of the ANOH Gas Plant.

Ojulari added that the NNPC Ltd had “zero tolerance for partners who are not able to fund their Cash-call” and had begun invoking default clauses.

He stressed collaboration over control, saying, “We have rid ourselves of any pseudo-regulation. We are not the super-regulator. Let them regulate. We want to work.”