Nigeria: Energy and Natural Resources

Nigeria now refines more petrol at home than at any point in its history, and the NMDPRA is still issuing import licences. On 28 September 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja went further, ordering the regulator to keep granting petrol import licences to three major marketers. For refinery investors, that raises a pointed question: does the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) protect local refineries from imported fuel at all? The answer sits in Section 317.

Nigeria’s transmission network remains the backbone of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (“NESI”), serving as the critical link between the generation and distribution segments of the value chain.

The Nigerian economy is heavily driven by fossil fuels and hydrocarbons, despite its net-zero and decarbonisation targets for 2060. This creates a dilemma, given the difficulty of reducing emissions while existing hydrocarbon infrastructure remains economically significant

Nigeria's investment landscape requires navigating multiple sector-specific regulators beyond initial company incorporation. Which regulatory bodies must foreign and local investors engage across agriculture, energy...

Ghana and Nigeria are reshaping their natural resources sectors through new regulatory frameworks and fiscal terms. Ghana introduces methane monitoring standards and proposes mineral tenure reforms...

Ghana and Nigeria are witnessing a transformative period in their energy and natural resources sectors, marked by major capital investments, regulatory reforms, and infrastructure development. From petroleum hub agreements and seismic exploration to utility-scale solar projects and mining law amendments, both nations are strategically positioning themselves to convert resource endowment into sustained industrial capacity.

TotalEnergies and AMNI have taken the Final Investment Decision on Nigeria's Ima Gas Project, a development 53 years in the making that will supply critical feed gas to Nigeria LNG's Train 7 expansion. Between FID and first gas in 2028, the project faces complex legal obligations spanning financing conditions, gas sales agreements, construction contracts, Nigerian content compliance, host community trusts, flaring regulations, and tax incentives that must all hold up in practice.

Nigeria's upstream regulator has issued a critical enforcement circular targeting holders of Petroleum Prospecting Licences awarded in three recent licensing rounds. The circular activates drill-or-drop provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, creating immediate compliance obligations and potential forfeiture consequences for licensees who have not met their minimum work programme commitments.

Nigeria now refines more petrol at home than at any point in its history, and the NMDPRA is still issuing import licences. On 28 September 2026, the Federal High Court in Abuja went further, ordering the regulator to keep granting petrol import licences to three major marketers. For refinery investors, that raises a pointed question: does the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) protect local refineries from imported fuel at all? The answer sits in Section 317.

Blended finance, is a smart investment method that combines money from the government or charities with private business capital. Its main goal is to push private investment into "frontier" or emerging markets and places that businesses usually avoid because they seem too risky or do not offer high enough returns.

Nigeria's 2026 Net Billing Regulations represent a transformative shift in the country's energy landscape, enabling businesses to transition from passive electricity consumers to active prosumers who can generate, consume, and sell solar power back to the grid. This regulatory framework introduces new opportunities and considerations for commercial entities looking to invest in renewable energy infrastructure. Understanding the legal and operational implications of these regulations is crucial for businesse

Ghana and Nigeria are witnessing a transformative period in their energy and natural resources sectors, marked by major capital investments, regulatory reforms, and infrastructure development. From petroleum hub agreements and seismic exploration to utility-scale solar projects and mining law amendments, both nations are strategically positioning themselves to convert resource endowment into sustained industrial capacity.