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Senate Approves Abe as Chairman, NUPRC Board

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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) would soon have a new chairman.

Biztellers reports that the Senate on Monday cleared former lawmaker representing Rivers South-East Senatorial District, Magnus Abe, for appointment as Chairman of the Board of the NUPRC.

Abe, a political ally of the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, was screened by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) before receiving the approval of lawmakers.

ALSO READ: NUPRC Shifts Focus to Dormant Oil Licences

The committee, chaired by Senator Eteng Jonah Williams, who represents Cross River Central Senatorial District, screened nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu for appointment as chairman and non-executive commissioners of the commission.

In line with the Senate’s tradition for former lawmakers appearing for confirmation, Abe was asked to “take a bow and go,” having served two terms in the National Assembly.

After his appearance before the committee in Room 117, Abe told journalists that the surge in global oil prices triggered by tensions involving Iran and the United States presents both challenges and opportunities for Nigeria.

On the impact of the escalating global crisis on Nigeria’s fuel prices, Abe described the situation as a worldwide challenge rather than a purely Nigerian problem.

“This is a very difficult time for the entire planet. It’s not just a Nigerian challenge; it is a global challenge,” he said.

According to him, while the conflict has pushed up the cost of fuel and created hardship for Nigerians, the increase in oil prices could also translate into higher national revenues.

“You must look at the balancing act. Prices will definitely be affected, but revenues from our oil sales will also be positively affected. There will be some measure of balance in what will happen,” he added.

Abe called for global prayers for an end to the conflict, noting that beyond the economic implications, the crisis was claiming human lives.

“Human beings are actually dying. Our prayers should be that this conflict, which in my opinion is unnecessary and harmful to the entire world, should quickly come to an end so that we can begin to recover,” he said.

The 2023 governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, however, urged Nigerians to see the situation as an opportunity to strengthen the country’s energy sector, particularly in gas development and marginal oil field investments.

“If the price of oil is going up, it allows us to invest in marginal fields that otherwise would not have been profitable. If gas supplies are being disrupted globally, this is an opportunity for Nigeria to optimise its own gas production, which will create jobs and new opportunities,” he said.

Abe also expressed gratitude to the president for nominating him to serve on the regulatory body’s board.

“I am sincerely grateful to Mr President, the Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, Bola Tinubu, for considering me and other members of the board worthy of service to this country and me.

“I see it as a great privilege and an opportunity to contribute to the Renewed Hope Agenda,” he stated.

He assured Nigerians that the incoming board would work closely with stakeholders to strengthen the regulatory environment in the petroleum industry.

According to him, the framework provided by the Petroleum Industry Act offers solutions to several long-standing problems in the sector, including oil theft and community agitation.

“With the Host Communities Fund, the host communities themselves are now stakeholders. They benefit from production, and nobody destroys what he is eating,” Abe said.

Earlier during the screening, one of the nominees for non-executive commissioner of the NUPRC board, Paul Jezhi, identified discrepancies in crude oil measurement at custody transfer points as a long-standing challenge in the sector.

He told lawmakers that the deployment of modern metering technology could significantly reduce the problem.

“The discrepancies in crude oil at the custody point have been a long-time issue. But modern meters can now record measurements within a margin of plus or minus one to five, and when such meters are deployed, these discrepancies will largely disappear,” he said.

Jezhi also recommended the adoption of drones and satellite technology to strengthen surveillance against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, particularly in the Niger Delta.

“The deployment of drones and satellite surveillance will also help curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism, especially in the Niger Delta,” he added.

On January 5, 2026, President Tinubu had earlier written to the Senate seeking confirmation of 21 nominees for the boards of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

In the letter, the president nominated Abe as chairman of the NUPRC board.

Other nominees for the NUPRC board include the past chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Kaduna, Paul Jezhi, and a former deputy director at the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, Sunday Babalola, which was dissolved following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021.

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Energy

Nigeria’s First Energy Infrastructure Map for Unveiling at NOG 2026

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In what is expected to provide investors and industry stakeholders with a detailed overview of Nigeria’s energy assets and opportunities, her first comprehensive Gas and Power Infrastructure Map will be unveiled at the 25th edition of NOG Energy Week.

It was gathered that the publication, developed by the Gas for Africa programme in partnership with NNPC Limited, will be launched during the annual energy conference in Abuja and is being positioned as a major step towards improving transparency and investment decision-making in Nigeria’s gas and power sectors.

Industry stakeholders have long cited the lack of consolidated and reliable infrastructure data as a major challenge to attracting investment into the sector. The new map seeks to address that gap by providing a single source of information on Nigeria’s gas and power infrastructure, including pipelines, gas processing facilities, power generation assets, LNG terminals and key transmission networks.

ALSO READ: Dangote Refinery Hits 700,000bpd Output, Eyes Global Leadership

Alongside the infrastructure map, organisers will also release a comprehensive report on Nigeria’s gas sector, which they describe as the most extensive industry intelligence publication ever produced on the country’s gas value chain.

The report examines developments in the sector since 2020 and covers key areas such as the NNPC Gas Master Plan 2026, gas reserves and production trends, pipeline infrastructure, capacity challenges, compressed natural gas (CNG), piped natural gas (PNG), liquefied natural gas (LNG) markets, gas-to-power projects and gas-based industrialisation.

According to the organisers, the publication provides an end-to-end assessment of Nigeria’s gas industry and offers critical insights for investors, policymakers and industry operators.

The launch comes at a time when global energy markets are undergoing significant shifts, driven by geopolitical tensions and increasing demand for alternative and secure energy supplies.

Organisers noted that Nigeria is strengthening its position as a major energy player, supported by rising crude oil production, implementation of a new Gas Master Plan and expanding refining capacity.

They said the infrastructure map and accompanying report are expected to help convert investor interest into concrete projects by providing accurate data on existing assets, infrastructure gaps and future opportunities across the sector.

Attendees at NOG Energy Week will be the first to access both publications as government officials, energy executives, investors and industry leaders gather in Abuja for the five-day event.

The conference is also expected to feature investment discussions, joint venture announcements, memorandum of understanding signings and project partnerships aimed at advancing Nigeria’s energy development agenda.

With preparations gathering momentum ahead of the event, organisers said NOG Energy Week 2026 will provide a platform for stakeholders to examine the future of Nigeria’s energy sector and its role in Africa’s broader energy transition and industrial growth.

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Energy

OPEC+ Increases Production Quotas for July

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OPEC+ ministers decided Sunday to increase oil quotas by a total 188,000 barrels per day for July, in a move analysts said would be unlikely to have an impact on prices sent higher by the Mideast war.

Jorge Leon, analyst at Rystad Energy, said ahead of the expected increase that it “means very little while the Strait of Hormuz remains closed”.

He added: “The market is not short of quota announcements; it is short of physical barrels that can actually move. In that sense, the 188,000 barrels per day increase would be more of a policy signal than a real supply boost.”

The hiked production output was agreed Sunday in a video meeting of oil ministers from key OPEC+ countries Saudi Arabia, Russia, Iraq, Kuwait, Kazakhstan, Algeria and Oman, a statement from the organisation said.

ALSO READ: Oil Sector Attracts $460,000 in Three Months – NBS

The increase was similar to ones decided in previous months.

The OPEC+ statement said the latest agreed hike was “to support oil market stability” but that the seven countries also saw an opportunity “to accelerate their compensation” in a time of historically high oil prices.

It added that the ministers “reaffirmed the importance of adopting a cautious approach and retaining full flexibility to increase, pause or reverse the phase out of the voluntary production adjustments, including reversing the previously implemented voluntary adjustments announced in November 2023”.

Leon, at Rystad Energy, said that OPEC+ was wary in case the Mideast war changes, and Iran’s stranglehold on the Strait of Hormuz eases.

“When the Strait of Hormuz reopens, the market could move very quickly from fear of shortage to fear of surplus,” he said.

“Returning OPEC+ supply, a stronger US shale response and weaker demand after a period of very high prices could leave the market with a very large oversupply problem,” he said.

AFP

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Nigeria, Algeria, Niger Back Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline Project

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Nigeria, Algeria, and Niger have expressed joint commitment to the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline (TSGP) project, which is set to significantly strengthen Africa’s regional energy security.

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, made the disclosure on Thursday at the 5th Ministerial Meeting of the TSGP Steering Committee in Algiers.

The high-level session included ministerial delegations from the three participating nations and a strategic consultation with Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune.

The minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to the successful delivery of the multi-billion-dollar infrastructure project, describing it as a landmark initiative that will redefine energy security across the continent.

ALSO READ: Dangote Refinery Hits 700,000bpd Output, Eyes Global Leadership

According to Ekpo, technical and commercial discussions are ongoing among stakeholders to reinforce the regulatory and financial frameworks required for the project’s implementation.

He noted that officials from the three countries have reviewed the latest feasibility reports and officially resolved that the project proceeds immediately into its next development phases.

“This project means a lot to the three countries in terms of industrialisation and job creation,” Ekpo asserted.

“We’ve talked about the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline, and the President of Algeria has expressed his interest in the completion of the project,” Ekpo said. “I assure him that on the part of Nigeria, we will do everything possible to ensure the project sees the light of day.”

The minister pledged to work closely with his counterparts in Algeria and Niger, as well as the respective national oil companies — including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) and Algeria’s Sonatrach — to accelerate project implementation.

On his part, President Tebboune reaffirmed Algeria’s full diplomatic and financial commitment to the pipeline.
He expressed confidence that with the robust political will demonstrated by the three governments, the pipeline will seamlessly move from planning to execution.

Tebboune noted that when completed, the transnational pipeline would deliver energy security, lucrative investment opportunities, and sustainable economic development for millions of people across Africa and European export markets.

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