Nigeria: Oil, Gas & Electricity

The Nigerian Power Sector experienced significant regulatory and market developments in the first half of 2026, yet continues to face critical structural challenges. This comprehensive mid-year report examines NESI's performance, analyzes key legal and regulatory changes, and assesses emerging trends in state electricity market reforms and energy transition initiatives.

The second quarter of 2026 witnessed significant regulatory developments across Nigeria’s energy sector. This edition of the Energy Law Digest covers key developments in upstream petroleum, domestic crude supply obligations, gas sector financing, electricity sector reforms, and energy transition governance.

Dangote Petroleum Refinery's decision to price wholesale fuel in US dollars has sparked debate over legality, economic impact, and Nigeria's energy security. Is this move lawful under the CBN Act, will it drive pump prices higher, and what does it reveal about the country's fragile crude supply system?

Nigeria's oil and gas sector faces significant regulatory updates with the introduction of the Decommissioning and Abandonment Regulations 2026. What are the key changes that operators and stakeholders need to understand to ensure compliance with these new requirements? This analysis examines the notable regulatory shifts that will impact decommissioning obligations and abandonment procedures in the Nigerian energy industry.

The Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission's Net Billing Regulations 2026 represent a transformative development in Nigeria's distributed renewable energy sector, enabling eligible customers to export...

Since 28 February 2026 when U.S. and Israeli strikes on Iran triggered the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, African economies have absorbed a multi-dimensional economic shock from the disruption of energy supply, food systems, export corridors and financial conditions.

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.

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.