Eni has exercised its pre-emption right.

Nigeria Agip Exploration Limited-subsidiary Eni has acquired an additional 2.5% stake in the OML 118 production sharing contract that contains the Bonga field

The oil major has exercised its pre-emption right to make this acquisition. NAE holds non-operating interests in the OML118. 

Following the transaction, which has received all necessary regulatory approvals, NAE's share in OML 118 PSC increased from 12.5% to 15%. This acquisition is fully aligned with Eni’s strategy to optimise its upstream portfolio and further strengthens the company’s commitment to deepwater projects in the country.

The divestment is now completed as the transaction has been made for an aggregated amount of US$510mn.

Eni has been present in Nigeria since 1962, with an average equity production of 50 Kboed in 2025. 

The company is outlining a US$60bn investment pipeline.

Reflecting a year of strong operational delivery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited has reported a profit after tax of US$3.6bn

This growth will be leveraged by the company to outline a US$60bn investment pipeline with oil and gas developments a priority. 

As the results recorded a 64% year-on-year growth, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group chief executive officer, said, "The earnings highlight the positive momentum of our ongoing transformation and the unwavering commitment of our workforce.”

“They offer a solid foundation for the ambitious growth ahead, in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate, and reaffirm our commitment to delivering value to Nigerians,” he added. 

Alongside investments across upstream operations and gas infrastructure, the company has plans for clean energy development as well. Its key strategies include boosting crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030. In the natural gas front, the company aims increased generation at 10 bn cu/ft per day by 2027 and 12 bn cu/ft per day by 2030, while turning around major gas infrastructure projects such as Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK), Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS) and Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipelines to strengthen domestic supply and regional integration. The company is mobilising US$60bn in investments across the upstream, midstream, and downstream sectors by 2030.

“Our transformation is anchored on transparency, innovation, and disciplined growth,” Ojulari added. “We are positioning NNPC Limited as a globally competitive energy company capable of delivering sustainable returns while powering the future of Nigeria and Africa.”

TotalEnergies becomes the operator of OPL257. (Image source: TotalEnergies)

In major transactions offshore Nigeria, Nigerian independent, Conoil Producing Limited, has entered block OML136 following the acquisition of a 40% participating interest from TotalEnergies, while selling a 50% operated interest in block OPL257 to TotalEnergies, retaining 10%

As TotalEnergies becomes the operator of OPL257 with a 90% interest, the company is looking at an area of around 370 sq kms that makes up the block, situated 150 kms offshore the coast of Nigeria. This is adjacent and extends to PPL 261, where the Egina South field was discovered. The OPL257 side includes an appraisal well of Egina South which is set to be drilled next year, before it is developed as a tie-back to the Egina FPSO, located approximately 30 km away.

"This transaction, built on our longstanding partnership with Conoil, will enable TotalEnergies to proceed with the appraisal of the Egina South discovery, an attractive tie-back opportunity for Egina FPSO. This fits perfectly with our strategy to leverage existing production facilities to profitably develop additional resources and to focus on our operated gas and offshore oil assets in Nigeria," said Mike Sangster, senior vice-president Africa, Exploration & Production at TotalEnergies.

NUPRC's Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum. (Image source: NUPRC)

On the occasion of its Project 1MMBOPD Additional Production Investment Forum held in London, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced the commencement of the 2025 Licensing Round effective 1 December 2025

Noting that the licensing round has been designed in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, the NUPRC chief executive, Gbenga Komolafe, said, "One of the factors that affected business is that activities were happening in silos but the NUPRC now realises the need to bring everyone together,” before adding, “We want you all to network. Bank of America is here as well as representatives of other banks.” 

He highlighted funding as the biggest challenge in Nigeria's upstream sector right now, and NUPRC's urgency in overcoming the issue, while speaking at the forum before the CEOs of oil companies, bank representatives and potential investors, among others.

As the session saw a lot of brainstorming in making the additional one million barrels a reality, Komolafe acknowledged the significance of the reforms initiated by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led administration in boosting Nigeria’s economic metrics. He cited his statements with Nigeria's progress in crude production, which now averages 1.71 mn bopd, with a peak daily output of 1.83 mn bopd.

Komolafe further noted that 46 field development plans (FDPs) had been approved from January 2025 till date, and the country's rig count has crossed 60, out of which at least 40 are active. The chief executive highlighted how these metrics spoke for themselves when it comes to prospects for investments, and said, “The drive to reach and sustain one million barrels per day in incremental capacity and beyond will require Floating Production Storage and Offloading (FPSO) units for cluster developments, Floating Storage and Offloading (FSO) vessels for crude evacuation and storage, and a variety of Modular Offshore Production Units and Early Production Facilities to enable early production and accelerated monetisation. All these need investments and the prospects are here in Nigeria.” 

Other delegates in the forum, including Alhassan Ado Doguwa, Chairman, House Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), and Senator Eteng Williams, assured investors of Nigeria's business friendly laws as they spoke before key oil and gas players. These comprised the Seplat CEO, Roger Brown, managing director, TotalEnergies Nigeria, Mattieu Bouyer, managing director of ExxonMobil Nigeria, Jagir Baxi, and chairman, AA Holdings, Austin Avuru, to name a few.