The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has overseen the successful execution of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) covering Petroleum Prospecting Licences 2000 and 2001 with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and the TotalEnergies–Sapetro Consortium.

… Komolafe Commends President for Vacating Entry Barriers

... We Look Forward to Another Bid Round – NNPCL

… We’re Honoured to Be First IOC Awarded Exploration Block in 10 Years- Total MD

... SAPETRO Commends NUPRC's Transparency in Bid Process

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has overseen the successful execution of the Production Sharing Contract (PSC) covering Petroleum Prospecting Licences 2000 and 2001 with Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd (NNPC) and the TotalEnergies–Sapetro Consortium.

The licences awarded to TotalEnergies and its partner South Atlantic Petroleum (SAPETRO) in the 2024 Licensing Round marked the closing ceremony of the 2024 Licensing Round.

The signing ceremony was held on Monday at the Commission Headquarters in Abuja.

The Commission Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, said the deal marks a new chapter in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry, adding that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's 2024 Executive Orders: #40 on fiscal incentives, #41 on local content, and #42 on cost efficiency and contract timelines, have catalysed massive investment inflows for shared prosperity.

The CCE said the awardees of PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 are beneficiaries of the reforms of President Tinubu.

However, he noted that "Every award has very clear terms about its tenure but the clear provisions of the PIA being the instrument that guides our regulatory activities is that unexplored acreages are expected to be relinquished apart from the clear terms of the award itself."

Komolafe congratulated TotalEnergies on its success in the Licensing Round. TotalEnergies has over 60 years of operations in Nigeria and holds 80% contractor interest, as well as Sapetro with 30 years of operations and holding 20% contractor interest.

He reiterated that the Licensing Round was based on a fair, transparent, and competitive bidding process in line with Section 73 of the PIA.

He commend President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for vacating entry barriers.

The CCE commended the NNPCL and the Consortium for their role in exploration and production activities in Nigeria.

The CCE said, "This PSC signals the start of a committed work programme that will help us unlock the untapped geological potential of our deep-water, expand our reserves, boost production, and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.”

According to him, the PSC sets out rules including payment of a signature bonus as stipulated in the licensing round and production bonuses tied to commercial milestones, ensuring Federation obligations relating to Decommissioning and Abandonment and Environmental Remediation Fund; a defined minimum work programme, with the requirement to provide guarantees to assure performance, among others.

The CCE pledged NUPRC's commitment to continue providing a level playing field, to reduce uncertainty, and foster ease of doing business.

Speaking at the event, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Mr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, thanked the leadership of the NUPRC for overseeing the licensing process in a fair and transparent manner.

He said the PSC is unique because it is the first PSC that comprehensively covers in scope both crude oil and natural gas.

The GCEO said following the PIA, tapping non-associated gas in the deep water is one of the areas the industry needed to push the frontiers. He said the PSC also has an incentive for performance which includes a $10m signature bonus, a production bonus of two million and four million barrels or a cash payment on attainment of 35 million barrels of production, respectively.

Ojulari said, "The PSC is a major milestone that speaks to the regulator’s commitment to implement the provisions of the PIA and will bring NNPCL closer to achieving the target of three million barrels per day and additional investments of $60bn by the end of 2030.

"I look forward to the CCE for many more bids like this and we will be leveraging this to actually demonstrate as we explore the opportunities that are in the Nigerian deep water. We will be marketing this outcome and we look forward to the next bid round."

The Managing Director of TotalEnergies, Mr. Mathieu Bouyer, thanked the CCE for the work done in ensuring the smooth conduct of the 2024 bid round.

He said, "This moment comes after extensive deliberations, rigorous evaluations, and, above all, an open and transparent bid process concluded on December 18, 2024. We are honoured to be the first International Oil Company to be awarded an explo block in 10 years and that our joint bid with our partner Sapetro was successful. Today marks the formal beginning of what we hope will be another chapter of value creation in Nigeria’s upstream sector."

Bouyer added, "We are eager to progress swiftly and responsibly with the implementation of the agreed work programme for both blocks. We are actively progressing towards spudding our first well on the blocks in the shortest possible timeframe."

The Managing Director of SAPETRO, Mr. Chukwuemeke Anagbogu, said the process went through a "very transparent and completely free process," adding that NUPRC showed leadership throughout the process.

AGC GS, Rev Paul Emeka

The apostolic visit of the General Superintendent (GS) of Assemblies of God Church, Nigeria (AG) Rev. Professor Paul Emeka on Sunday to the Abuja Central District of the Church in Gwarinpa, stirred excitement after he advised President Bola Tinubu to buckle up as Nigerians are crying for help.

 The GS Emeka stormed the central district amidst the church’s Council Meeting and the International Father’s Day celebration for a three-day apostolic visit from Friday, June 14 to Sunday June 16, 2024.

The official visit came after a year since he last graced the district he inaugurated.

The grand finale of the event which was held on Sunday at the Assemblies of God Church International Worship Centre, Gwarimpa, Abuja with theme, ‘The Father’s Blessing,’ saw the attendance of top church leadership and ambassadors. 

As a critical part of the apostolic visit, the GS, Rev. Emeka inaugurated the five newly elected district presbyters of the Abuja Central District of the church who were elected at the Council Meeting held on Saturday.

The officials are: Rev. Emeka Eze (PHD) who was elected as the District Superintendent of Abuja Central District; Rev. Emmanuel Omole, the Assistant District Superintendent; Rev. Abraham Odey as the District Secretary; Rev. Femi Omole, the District Treasurer and Rev. Theophilus Augustine, who is a member (Presbyter).

During his sermon, the GS who believes in innovation admonished the leaders to work for the good of the church and humanity. The GS described their election as “God’s choice” adding that they are vessels who would drive the desired change.

 “As the GS of Assemblies of God Church, I came here and I discovered that this branch is doing fine and it is very lively. Their worship is in line with our doctrine and I am happy as a father,” Prof. Emeka said during an interview at the sideline of the event.

Speaking on his expectations, Prof Emeka, said the agenda of the church is to drive growth and contribute its quota to the Nigerian government.

The GS explained, “This election is under a programme we call Council Meeting which is done every three years. As for what I am expecting from them, I am expecting them to move the work forward so that people will have access to the gospel, the church of Jesus Christ moving and people will be edified. 

“It will enable the people and the church to contribute their quota to the government of Nigeria and align our activities with what the government is doing.”

He further admonished Nigerians not to lose hope because “God is alive”.

The GS added, “But at the same time, the government should buckle up because the masses are crying. People are crying and the government should do their best. We are praying for them. There is no need telling the people to pray. The church is praying. 

“So, all we are saying is that the government should justify the prayers that the masses and the churches in particular are praying for them and to do the right thing so that there will be smiles on the faces of the people.”

The newly elected District Superintendent, Abuja Central District, Rev. Emeka Eze expressed excitement with the visit of the Assemblies of God GS to his church.

Rev. Eze described his principal as a role model who has raised a lot of leaders adding that the GS is in charge of over 30,000 pastors across Nigeria. According to him, the GS taught at least 10,000 Assemblies of God Church pastors.

“Today is so special because today is International Father’s Day and we have the father of Assemblies of God Church, the General Superintendent, Rev Prof. Paul Emeka who came to bless us. I’m so happy because the truth is, any man without a father has no feathers to fly high. 

“They (fathers) are like feathers to fly. His prophetic word has shown us steps to climb as a church and as individuals,” said Rev. Eze.

The clergyman vowed to use the new role to drive change that would impact his members and the country. 

Rev. Eze affirmed his commitment to using the gospel to transform lives. He believes the best way to drive economic prosperity and peace in the country is by teaching and mentoring future leaders. 

He said, “The agenda we have set is that the gospel of the kingdom must be preached before the end comes. If there is any mandate that Jesus Christ gave the church, it is to preach to the nations of the world.

“This gospel is the answer to the challenges of the world. If people can receive Christ into their hearts, there will be no insecurity, there will be no crime and the leaders will get it right because Proverbs 29:2 says when the righteous is on the throne the people will rejoice.

“So, nations and kingdoms have problems today because of bad leadership and when leadership fails everything fails. So, if people connect to God, God will help them to manage the people and any leadership area that God has handed to them.”