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Industry Leaders Fume: Proposed Decommissioning Agency Branded a Threat to Investments
Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have voiced strong opposition to a proposed law that seeks to establish a commission dedicated solely to decommissioning and abandoning oil production facilities, describing the move as unnecessary and overlapping with existing structures.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The concerns were raised on Thursday during a stakeholders’ meeting with the House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream). The session drew representatives from key regulatory bodies, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Ministries of Petroleum Resources and Environment, the National Oil Spill Detection and Response Agency (NOSDRA), and the National Environmental Standards and Regulations Enforcement Agency (NESREA).
Doguwa defends bill, says it will protect host communities
Committee Chairman, Alhassan Ado Doguwa, defended the proposed legislation—titled the National Commission for the Decommissioning of Oil and Gas Infrastructure (NC‑DOGI) Bill—describing it as a groundbreaking initiative.
“This Bill is not just another legislative exercise; it is a leadership bill,” Doguwa said. “It will align Nigeria with global decommissioning standards, protect host communities, and prevent the environmental hazards that come with poorly abandoned facilities.”
NUPRC insists new agency is unnecessary
However, regulators and industry experts pushed back, warning that the proposal could create bureaucratic bottlenecks and duplicate existing frameworks.
Mark Emmanuel, NUPRC’s Director of Production and Development, noted that the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) already provides a clear legal framework for decommissioning and abandonment.
“Sections 232 and 3 of the PIA already outline comprehensive decommissioning processes,” Emmanuel stated. “Operators are legally required to fund, plan, and execute decommissioning under NUPRC’s oversight. Establishing a new agency now is premature and wasteful, considering most Nigerian oil fields are still in active production.”
Environment ministry echoes concerns
Rofikat Odetoro, Director of Environmental Assessment at the Ministry of Environment, added that decommissioning issues are already addressed in Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) procedures.
“Existing laws and agencies, including NOSDRA and NESREA, already cover decommissioning,” she said. “What’s needed is better funding and enforcement—not another agency that will duplicate responsibilities and cause confusion.”
Several other stakeholders echoed these sentiments, urging lawmakers to focus on improving coordination among existing institutions rather than creating new ones.
“Instead of adding another layer, let’s harmonise the roles of NOSDRA, NESREA, and NUPRC,” one participant noted. “The PIA was crafted to address these issues. Let’s allow it to work.”
With industry concerns mounting, the future of the NC‑DOGI Bill remains uncertain as the House Committee continues its consultations.
Troops of the Nigerian Army have successfully rescued 19 kidnapped residents and neutralised a suspected bandit during a coordinated security operation in Gidan Dogo, Bwari Area Council, within the Federal Capital Territory.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The mission was launched following credible intelligence on the hideouts of terrorists responsible for recent abductions in the Byazhin area of Abuja.
According to a statement issued on Saturday by the Acting Assistant Director, Army Public Relations, Olawuyi Itunuoluwa, soldiers from the 7 Guards Battalion of the Nigerian Army Guards Brigade, in collaboration with the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, conducted a search-and-rescue operation that successfully freed the kidnapped victims.
The troops encountered the criminals during the operation, resulting in a gunfight. The statement explained, “Troops of the 7 Guards Battalion, Guards Brigade, in conjunction with the Nigeria Police Force and local vigilantes, successfully rescued 19 kidnapped victims during a coordinated search and rescue operation. During the operation, troops engaged the bandits, neutralising one criminal while others fled with suspected gunshot wounds.”
Further searches of the area led to the recovery of weapons believed to have been used by the suspects, including an AK-47 rifle and a locally fabricated firearm.
Security sources told Punch that the operation is part of ongoing efforts to dismantle kidnapping networks operating in and around the nation’s capital.
Commander of the Guards Brigade, Adebisi Onasanya, commended the troops and collaborating security agencies for their bravery and professionalism, reiterating the brigade’s commitment to protecting residents of the Federal Capital Territory.
He stated that the Guards Brigade remains “resolute and fully committed to safeguarding residents of the Federal Capital Territory and protecting Abuja as the nation’s seat of power.”
The Army assured residents that troops would continue aggressive patrols and security operations to prevent further attacks, intensify collaboration with other security agencies, and eliminate threats of terrorism, kidnapping, and other criminal activities in the territory and its environs.
The Lagos State Government has issued a stern warning to Nollywood actress Sarah Martins to stop cooking and distributing food on public roads, cautioning that she faces arrest and prosecution if the practice continues.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
The directive came on Saturday from the Commissioner for Environment and Water Resources, Tokunbo Wahab, in a public statement addressed to the actress.
While acknowledging Martins’ charitable intentions toward vulnerable residents, Wahab stressed that cooking or trading on public infrastructure—including roads, walkways, and medians—violates Lagos State’s environmental and public order laws.
“Although we appreciate the spirit of charity and compassion behind your actions, carrying out such activities on public roads, walkways, or medians is not permitted under Lagos environmental and public order regulations,” Wahab said. He explained that these practices pose safety, sanitation, and traffic risks.
The commissioner also noted that Martins had previously been cautioned over similar actions last year but had resumed the activity. He urged her to redirect her humanitarian efforts to approved platforms and locations.
“You were previously cautioned about this same issue due to the understanding of its philanthropic intention. I strongly advise you to desist from street cooking or similar activities in public spaces to avoid apprehension and prosecution,” Wahab said. “If you wish to continue your charitable outreach, it should be done through proper channels and designated locations to support vulnerable people without violating the law or creating environmental hazards.”
Wahab further emphasized that Lagos State expects all residents and visitors to comply with its laws, stating, “We expect everyone to be law-abiding in Lagos, just as they would be in any other well-regulated city.”
The warning follows recent videos showing Martins cooking and distributing food on Lagos streets, which drew significant public attention. This is not the first incident; in October 2025, officials from the Kick Against Indiscipline task force apprehended Martins while she was cooking on a road median in Lekki, seizing her cooking equipment. Footage of the encounter circulated online, showing her distressed and holding a hand she said was burned by hot oil, sparking mixed reactions.
The controversy also involved Seyi Tinubu, son of President Bola Tinubu, after Martins claimed she received ₦20 million from his office to support her charity. Seyi Tinubu later clarified that the funds were raised by friends moved by her humanitarian work, and he stressed he did not support any actions that violate Lagos State laws.
The state government has consistently defended its enforcement measures, maintaining that Martins’ activities on public roads were unauthorized and breached environmental and sanitation regulations.
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has reiterated that Eba Island is part of Ondo State, stressing that there is no conflict with Ogun State over the oil deposits in the area.....KINDLY READ THE FULL STORY HERE▶
Speaking with journalists at the Government House in Akure interactions with Ogun State Governor Dapo Abiodun have been cordial, with no confrontation. He mentioned that Abiodun sometimes jokingly suggested sharing the oil well to make Ogun an oil-producing state.
“The location of mineral resources is determined by nature, not humans. It is God’s deposit. From historical and administrative records, the area clearly belongs to Ondo State,” he said.
The dispute arose after President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved drilling at an abandoned oil well on Eba Island, prompting contrasting claims from both states. Ogun State officials, including the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, assert the island lies within Ogun Waterside Local Government Area, a position supported by local traditional rulers.
Ondo State, however, maintains ownership. Commissioner for Justice and Attorney-General, Kayode Ajulo, described the renewed claims by Ogun as “astonishing,” citing historical and administrative records confirming Eba Island as part of Ondo. Ajulo explained that his research, including archival studies in the UK, consistently identified the island as integral to Atijere in Ilaje Local Government Area of Ondo State.
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