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We Aim To Have Zero Gas Flares By Q4 2024 – Dumo Lulu- Briggs

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Chief Dumo Lulu-Briggs, Lawyer, Philanthropist, and Nationalist is the Chairman of Platform Petroleum, on the sidelines of the just concluded Offshore Technology Conference, OTC, in Houston Texas, USA, shared his experience on his early days and foray into the oil and gas industry, his challenges, and success story of growing a small indigenous oil company into a household name in Exploration and Production. Excerpts;

Kindly give an overview of your journey into the petroleum industry and how it dovetailed into your current position as the chairman of Platform Petroleum.

After earning a Law degree from Ahmadu Bello University and a Masters from the University of London, I attended law school in Nigeria and briefly practiced law in Lagos.

Drawn to politics, I moved to Port Harcourt, where I tried local politics and ran a pub, displeasing my father. To satisfy him, I co-founded a law firm. Later, my father encouraged me to join his oil business, despite my lack of experience. I was initially interviewed for a legal adviser role but was appointed General Manager instead.

Recognizing unfavorable agreements with our foreign partners, I sought advice from Austin Avuru, who became a key advisor.

Avuru’s expertise led us to establish Platform Petroleum, gathering a team of experienced Nigerian professionals. We started with His Royal Highness Edmund Daukoru as our first chairman and Prof. Sylvester Adegoke as our Vice Chairman, then I came onboard just as a shareholder.

In 2004, former President Olusegun Obasanjo appointed Daukoru as Adviser first then later as a Minister and that was how he left Platform Petroleum. That was how Prof. Sylvester Adegoke became Chairman, and I became the Vice Chairman.

In 2011/2012, I became chairman, and I am the chairman till date.

Our strategic partnerships and renegotiated agreements helped us thrive. We began with minimal resources but secured investments and funding through innovative financial strategies. By 2007, we commenced oil production, achieving significant success from our small field.

My collaboration with Avuru was pivotal, transforming our company into a strong indigenous player in Nigeria’s oil industry. That is how I got into the oil and gas industry which I had no prior knowledge on. This journey, though initially reluctant, became deeply fulfilling and impactful.

Can you elaborate on the collaboration with New Cross and its impact on Platform Petroleum?

Our relationship with New Cross was a game changer and quite mutually beneficial.

Having JV partners like New Cross makes operations smoother for marginal field operators. With 100% collaboration and transparency, we quickly earned New Cross’s confidence, leading to minimal questioning from them. We worked together on many projects, including setting up the Ase River crude evacuation pipeline, a crucial 24-kilometer infrastructure to the Brass Terminal.

We proposed a 50/50 JV with New Cross, diverging from the typical 60/40 arrangement, and successfully built the pipeline, benefiting our cluster partners and generating additional revenue through tariffs.

Our partnership with New Cross extends to both upstream and midstream ventures, including PNG Gas Limited, a significant LPG player in Nigeria, producing 30,000 tons of LPG and 30,000 million standard cubic feet of gas. This collaboration has been incredibly rewarding, marked by open, meaningful conversations and mutual understanding, ensuring we always move in the same direction without conflict.

What have been the challenges and key milestones achievement during this journey?

We were the smallest in 2004 but we were the first to bring our field on-stream and we have been producing that small asset. We have increased our oil production from 2,000 to over 3,000 barrels. Today, we have been able to extract at least some 12.3 million barrels and 118 billion standard cubic feet (SCF) of gas from that small asset and we are still on. We aim for 10,000 barrels, having expanded into three additional marginal fields.

From the start, we decided to run Platform as a family, treating everyone with importance and fostering a highly motivated workforce. We address issues affecting our staff, ensuring their welfare, and maintaining a supportive environment. This familial spirit extends to all stakeholders and communities, with a commitment to exceeding expectations in community spending. Our journey has been both rewarding and challenging.

Do you have a timeline for the 10,000bpd target?

We aim to bring all marginal fields into production by 2025, targeting 10,000 barrels of oil and at least 50 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day. To mitigate the volatility of the oil and gas industry, we have diversified into non-E&P ventures. As a small company, price fluctuations can significantly impact us unlike larger players like Seplat.

So, we have invested in real estate, building a 19-story Towers, and expanded into logistics and leasing. We are involved across the entire value chain; upstream, midstream, and downstream, operating service stations in Lagos, Warri, and Port Harcourt, and exploring refining opportunities.

Despite our size, we have achieved significant success and efficiency, proving that a small company can accomplish big things effectively.

Do you plan to take advantage of the upcoming licensing bid rounds?

We are very ambitious because we want to become a tier-1 company like the IOCs or a tier-2 company like Seplat. Interestingly, Seplat originated from Maurel & Prom, Shebah Petroleum, and Platform. We capitalized on the first divestment, and today, Seplat is a major player. This demonstrates that Platform can also grow significantly.

We have planned a roadshow in London this June 2024 to explore opportunities arising from various divestments. Although we were unsuccessful in the 2020 marginal field rounds, our contributions to the industry are substantial. We have three fields set to start production by 2025. We funded these projects, provided expertise, and identified promising assets. Successfully bringing these fields to production will boost national output and validate our efforts.

We believe Platform deserves recognition and more assets. Our roadshow aims to attract equity partners and prepare for future opportunities. We are targeting a billion-dollar investment, engaging equity players, junior debt providers, and international banks. We seek partners ready to invest in Nigeria’s oil and gas potential.

We emphasize Nigeria’s vast opportunities and actively bring investors to showcase the country’s potential. The current government is proactive, understanding the need for economic growth. Platform is prepared to leverage every opportunity in the oil and gas industry to contribute to this expansion.

Platform Petroleum played a prominent role at the Nigerian Pavilion during 2024 OTC here in Houston, does it align with the company’s strategic growth?

Yes, it does. The Offshore Technology Conference (OTC) is a ritual, and everyone knows Nigeria has vast potential. With the shift from fossil fuels and the IOCs divesting from onshore assets, it is crucial to promote Nigeria as a significant market. Partnering with the Petroleum Technology Association of Nigeria (PETAN) at OTC is key to attracting investment. To grow Platform, we need investor confidence and funding.

While we support net zero gas flaring, we emphasize Nigeria’s energy needs and our unique perspective to the global community. This approach can open financial opportunities.

At the OTC through PETAN, our aim was to boost investor interest, recognizing PETAN’s pivotal role. Their events have drawn significant attention, indicating growing interest in our message. For Platform, we have always allowed the optimism of our will to triumph the pessimism of our intellect.

Challenges may seem insurmountable, but we believe in our inner strength. My father’s experience in the oil industry exemplifies this spirit. Despite initial setbacks and risks, his faith and determination led to success.

Through professional support and renegotiated agreements, our business became profitable. We will continue to channel this resilience, promoting Nigeria’s energy sector and seeking the right investment mix for future growth.

What is the long-term vision of Platform Petroleum and how can it contribute to energy security and economic development of Nigeria?

As I mentioned earlier, we are conducting a roadshow in London. We are efficiently producing our assets, upgrading flow stations, increasing capacity, and achieving nearly zero emissions. Currently, we have about one percent gas flare, and by the last quarter, we aim to have zero gas flares, becoming the first indigenous company to commercialize our gas. We are aligned with government aspirations, supporting their targets, and preparing to attract a billion-dollar investment to help achieve 30 billion standard cubic feet of gas production.

Nigeria is a big market, and we must think big. This government’s plans, like the Lagos-Calabar coastal line, reflect that mindset.

We should have faith in our country. At Platform Petroleum, we are readying ourselves for divestment opportunities to become a tier-2 player. We are in talks with some IOCs.

Platform’s contribution to Seplat’s success is notable; Mr. Avuru, our former MD, was seconded to Seplat, which highlights our capability. We aim to take Platform to the next level, building on the strong foundation we have established.

Seplat has set a precedent, and we are poised to follow.

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Profit Margin Still Below 10% as NNPC Ltd Reports N13tn Revenue in Four Months

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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) recorded a total revenue of nearly N13 trillion trillion between January and April 2026, although the company continued to grapple with a relatively thin net profit margin of less than 10 percent during the same period.

This is detailed in the NNPC Ltd’s monthly report summaries for the first four months of 2026.

The report showed a high-volume operational model with a significant portion of earnings directed toward statutory obligations rather than net profitability.

The NNPC Ltd’s revenue trajectory across the four-month period showed significant volatility and growth, specifically reporting a total revenue of N12.996 trillion during the period under consideration.

Overall, the company reported revenue of N2.571 trillion in January. The figure moved to N2.680 trillion in February, rose to N2.774 trillion in March, and climbed to N4.971 trillion in April.

ALSO READ: Workers Suspend Strike at NUPRC

However, profitability remained modest in comparison to the scale of revenue. The national oil major recorded a Profit After Tax (PAT) of N385 billion in January, followed by N136 billion in February, N276 billion in March, and N481 billion in April.

In all, the total profit after tax for the four-month period reached N1.278 trillion.

Measured against the total revenue of N12.996 trillion, the net profit accounted for roughly 9.8 percent of the total earnings, underscoring the substantial impact of operational costs, inefficiencies and perhaps, statutory payments on the company’s bottom line.

Also, statutory payments remained a primary driver of financial outflows for the state-owned energy firm. The cumulative statutory payments recorded from January through April totalled N3.714 trillion, representing a significant portion of the total revenue.

Besides, a review of the four-month data indicated that operational performance in the upstream sector demonstrated substantial volume when calculated across the 120 days of the period.

Operational performance in the upstream sector demonstrated substantial volume when calculated across the 120 days spanning the period. Total crude oil and condensate production, calculated by multiplying daily averages by the number of days in each month, reached approximately 191.88 million barrels.

A breakdown showed that the NNPC Ltd reported 1.64 million barrels per day in January; 1.51 million bpd in February; 1.56 million bpd in March and 1.68 million bpd in April, the highest so far in 2026.

In the same vein, natural gas production remained consistently stable throughout the period, with a cumulative total of approximately 906.158 Billion Standard Cubic Feet (BSCF).

Gas output in January was 7.283 BSCF per day in January; 7.454 BSCF per day in February; 7.731 BSCF per day in March and 7.730 BSCF per day in April.

The operational challenges and successes driving these numbers were varied. For instance, production metrics were influenced by factors such as the completion of Turn Around Maintenance and various infrastructure integrity issues, including the Trans Forcados Pipeline outage and asset-specific leakages identified throughout the first quarter.

Despite the hurdles, the NNPC Ltd maintained improved oil and gas output, supported by the continuous strategic effort to improve asset reliability and resolve evacuation constraints.

During the period, infrastructure development remained a core pillar of the company’s strategic efforts, including steady progress on the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the successful completion of the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) River Niger crossing.

Since the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) transformed the former Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation into the commercially oriented NNPC Limited in 2022, the expectation was that it would operate as a profit-driven company rather than a government agency. However, the company has continued to grapple with legacy operational challenges. One of the most visible challenges has been the state-owned refineries, where the national oil company has incurred substantial liabilities. Despite billions of dollars spent on rehabilitation, the facilities have remained shut, but continue to incur debts.

In 2025, the federal government approved the write-off of more than $1.4 billion and trillions of naira in historical obligations owed by NNPC as part of efforts to clean up its balance sheet and improve transparency.

While NNPC Ltd’s commercialisation has altered its legal structure, the company continues to navigate the difficult transition from a state-run oil corporation to a fully commercial energy enterprise, burdened by ageing assets, legacy debts, political expectations and operational inefficiencies.

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Workers Suspend Strike at NUPRC

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Work has resumed fully at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) after workers suspended the one-day strike that shut the commission’s offices nationwide on Monday over welfare and administrative concerns.

The commission disclosed this in a statement on Tuesday.

Workers had downed tools following the collapse of negotiations between staff representatives and management over issues bordering on institutional governance, staff welfare, promotions and training opportunities.

Among their demands were a review of the current cost-of-collection structure, particularly the one per cent allocation to the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), which the workers argued had weakened the upstream regulator’s operational efficiency and financial capacity.

The aggrieved workers also accused the commission of adopting an operator-style approach to regulation that created overlaps in responsibilities within the broader petroleum regulatory framework.

ALSO READ: ASRI Urges FG to Allocate Crude to Local Refiners

They further demanded remuneration comparable to what obtains across the oil and gas industry and expressed dissatisfaction with what they described as inadequate attention to staff development, career progression and capacity building.

Although the strike led to the closure of NUPRC offices nationwide, the commission had maintained that oil and gas production activities were not affected, noting that operational staff were exempted from the industrial action.
Providing an update on Tuesday, the NUPRC said the strike had been suspended following successful discussions between its management and the workers’ unions.

In a statement signed by the NUPRC Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, the commission said, “Work has fully resumed at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission following the suspension of the one-day strike called by workers’ unions.

The industrial action was called off on the night of June 1, 2026, after successful negotiations between the top management of the NUPRC and the two in-house unions – the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria and the Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers.”

According to the commission, the industrial action lasted only 12 hours and had no impact on regulatory oversight of oil and gas facilities.

“The strike, which lasted for 12 hours, affected only administrative work while regulatory activities in oil and gas facilities remained unaffected,” the statement noted.

The NUPRC also dismissed reports suggesting that crude oil production was disrupted by the strike or that the dispute was primarily about foreign training opportunities.

“The commission, therefore, calls on members of the public to disregard false reports on crude oil production disruptions as well as misleading publications stating that the disagreement centred on foreign training,” Akinkuotu stated.
The regulator further pledged to address workers’ concerns and improve staff welfare and development.

“Lastly, the NUPRC promised to improve the operating environment of its workforce and prioritise staff development in line with the Petroleum Industry Act,” the statement added.

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“Stop Spreading Fear” — Presidency Slams Nasboi Over Alleged Fake Terror Clip

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The Presidency has cautioned popular comedian and content creator, Nasboi, over a viral video he posted online, accusing him of spreading fear with what it described as a misleading terror-related clip.

The Special Assistant to President Bola Tinubu on Social Media, Dada Olusegun, raised the concern in a post on his X handle on Tuesday, saying the footage being circulated does not originate from Nigeria and was wrongly presented in a way that could cause public panic.

ALSO READ: I’m Getting Death Threats For Criticising Wizkid – Nasboi Calls Out

He alleged that the video shared by Nasboi was originally taken from another online page that identified the armed men in the clip as terrorists operating in the Republic of Benin, not Nigeria.

According to him, sharing such content without proper context was irresponsible, especially given the sensitive security situation in the country.
He wrote: “You cannot continue to intentionally use your page to spread fear @iamnasboi for whatever reason you might think you have.

“The video you posted was clearly quoted from a page that says these are Beninese terrorists. This means the footage is from Benin Republic and has nothing to do with Nigeria.

“We have our challenges, but you using your wide reach to spread fear with a fake footage is the highest form of irresponsibility. You can do better!”

The presidential aide did not give further details on when the video first surfaced or whether any official verification was conducted on its origin.

Nasboi had earlier shared the clip with the caption “PRESIDENT @officialABAT,” showing armed men on motorcycles carrying out an attack in a rural setting.

The post sparked mixed reactions online, as users debated whether the footage was genuinely from Nigeria or another West African country.

Although similar videos have previously been linked to extremist groups operating in the Sahel region, there has been no independent confirmation that the viral clip originated from Nigeria.

 

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