Nigeria: Energy and Natural Resources

Nigeria’s electricity sector has remained the subject of persistent debate, reform efforts, and unfulfilled promises. Successive administrations since the 1990s have pledged comprehensive transformation of the industry. While some achieved limited structural reforms, many produced little beyond policy papers and committees. The consequence has been a power sector that continues to underperform, with Nigeria generating less electricity per capita than several of its African counterparts.

The Nigerian energy sector, particularly the oil and gas industry, is governed by a complex web of statutory, contractual, and institutional frameworks regulating the exploration, production, transportation, and commercialization of petroleum resources. Owing to the technical complexity of operations, the multiplicity of stakeholders, including the State, multinational oil companies, indigenous operators, regulators, and host communities, as well as the enormous economic interests involved, disputes are an inevitable feature of the sector.

Nigeria's 2025 Petroleum Licensing Round offers 50 blocks across the Niger Delta, deep offshore, and frontier basins, targeting USD 10 billion in investment under the Petroleum Industry Act. With nearly 300 applicants competing, the round represents the most ambitious upstream acreage release in Nigeria's post-PIA era, testing the country's reformed regulatory framework at unprecedented scale.

Nigeria and Ghana are entering a more disciplined execution phase in their energy and natural resources sectors, marked by firmer regulation, active project delivery, and clearer investment signals. Upstream activity is intensifying with over 300 firms competing for oil blocks, while gas pricing adjustments and power sector reforms point to coordinated efforts to stabilise markets and expand supply across both nations.

The Federal Government has introduced significant fiscal reforms in the mining sector with the enactment of the Nigeria Tax Act, 2025 (NTA) and the Nigeria Tax Administration Act, 2025 (NTAA). These new laws represent a definitive departure from the previous fiscal regime, which was primarily governed by the Nigerian Minerals and Mining Act, 2007 (the "Mining Act") and the Companies Income Tax Act, 1977 (as amended) (CITA).

Mining has become one of the key drivers of Africa's economic growth and development.

Dangote Group's order of over 1,000 CNG-powered trucks from China represents a strategic shift in Nigeria's freight sector, driven by the need to reduce diesel dependency and improve logistics efficiency. This large-scale transition to compressed natural gas reflects broader alignment between corporate transport strategies and national energy priorities, while opening new opportunities across vehicle supply chains, conversion infrastructure, and fuel distribution networks.

Nigeria's Arbitration and Mediation Act 2023 fundamentally transforms the country's arbitration framework by codifying the seat of arbitration doctrine in alignment with international standards.

Nigeria’s electricity sector has remained the subject of persistent debate, reform efforts, and unfulfilled promises. Successive administrations since the 1990s have pledged comprehensive transformation of the industry. While some achieved limited structural reforms, many produced little beyond policy papers and committees. The consequence has been a power sector that continues to underperform, with Nigeria generating less electricity per capita than several of its African counterparts.

Dangote Group's order of over 1,000 CNG-powered trucks from China represents a strategic shift in Nigeria's freight sector, driven by the need to reduce diesel dependency and improve logistics efficiency. This large-scale transition to compressed natural gas reflects broader alignment between corporate transport strategies and national energy priorities, while opening new opportunities across vehicle supply chains, conversion infrastructure, and fuel distribution networks.

Nigeria’s electricity sector has remained the subject of persistent debate, reform efforts, and unfulfilled promises. Successive administrations since the 1990s have pledged comprehensive transformation of the industry. While some achieved limited structural reforms, many produced little beyond policy papers and committees. The consequence has been a power sector that continues to underperform, with Nigeria generating less electricity per capita than several of its African counterparts.

Nigeria's power sector faces critical gas supply challenges despite vast reserves, with Generation Companies struggling under mounting debts, uncompetitive pricing, and persistent infrastructure issues.