Business

Eni’s Onshore Assets Sale To Oando Attracts Controversy

Published

2 years ago

September 13, 2023

There have been controversies over the sale of Eni’s subsidiary, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited (NAOC) oil assets to Oando Oil Limited (OOL).
The assets comprise Oil Mining Lease, OMLs 60, 61, 62, and 63.
According to The Tide’s source, the controversy is based on the fact that ExxonMobil was previously stopped from selling its entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited, (MPNU) to Seplat Energy Plc.
Meanwhile, industry leaders, who bared their minds on the issue in different interviews, said they expected similar trend as the government had agreed that such assets should be utilised to enable the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC), a fully-owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, build its capacity to becoming a major exploration and producing company.
They said they were shocked to note the smooth sailing of the Eni/Oando deal, thus provoking Seplat Energy and other parties.
Speaking on the issue, the National President of Oil and Gas Service Providers Association of Nigeria, Mazi Colman Obasi, said, “I cannot understand why the two cases are treated differently. I expect the government to be fair and transparent to all investors”.
In the same vein, Lead Promoter, EnergyHub Nigeria, Prof. Felix Amieyeofori, said, “This is a new government that is making efforts to attract private investors and needs to send the right signals to the global community.
“It should also be known that Oando had successfully acquired Eni’s assets before for development. There seems to be trust that informs the current transaction by Eni”.
Already, the NNPC Limited has clarified that it is not against the sale of shares by NAOC to Oando Oil Limited.
NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, GarbaDeen Muhammad, in a statement obtained by the source, said, “It has come to our notice that a routine communication in the form of a letter written by NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL) to its JV Partner, Nigerian Agip Oil Company Limited is being interpreted to suggest that NNPC Ltd is opposed to the sale of NAOC shares to Oando PLC. This is not correct.
“NNPC Limited wishes to state that the letter was sent by NEPL, an NNPC Ltd. subsidiary. However, nowhere was opposition or objection to the transaction in the letter.
“NEPL is only drawing attention to certain important clauses in the Joint Operating Agreement between it, NAOC and OOL; which might have been overlooked in error. Adherence to those clauses will protect the transaction, now and in the future”.
In a letter to the Managing Director of NOAC and the Chief Operating Officer of Oando Oil Limited, NNPC Limited, had said, “Our attention has been drawn to various reports circulating on different media platforms concerning an alleged divestment of NAOC participating in the OML mentioned above to Oando Oil Limited.
“A duly signed press statement allegedly emanating from OOL dated 4th September 2023 affirms that NAOC has assigned its entire 20 per cent participating interest in the said OMLs to OOL.
“While we are yet to confirm the authenticity of the purported divestment, we would like you to note that the purported divestment, if true, would have the following far-reaching contractual/legal implications in relation to the Joint Operating Agreement (JOA) dated July 1991 governing the operations of NAOC/NEPL/OOL joint venture:
“It is imperative for you to know that failure for you to obtain NEPL’s prior written consent and approval with regards to the alleged transfer of your interest in the joint asset constitutes a grave breach of the terms of the JOA and NEPL’s reserves its right in relation to the said breach- including NEPL’s entitlement to invalidate the purported assignment to OOL.
“Please note that as holders of 60 per cent participating interest in the NEPL/NAOC/ OOL JV, we are indeed concerned that the entire purported assignment was executed without due compliance with the terms of JOA. We expect that all parties to the JOA will comply and observe the terms of the JOA”.
Meanwhile, the management of Eni’s subsidiary, NAOC, has concluded plans to engage labour over the sale of the assets this week.
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, (PENGASSAN) had ordered the withdrawal of its members from all offices and field locations of Eni, over the sale deal.
However, the source’s checks indicated that the two parties have resolved to meet this week in order to allay the fears of workers, who are sceptical that the sale of the assets would culminate in retrenchment.
There are indications that the workers are scarred that the deal would lead to their retrenchment because they were not sufficiently carried along, hence the management has decided to engage them in order to restore harmony and enhance operations.
Chairman of PENGASSAN, Agip Group, Eyong Survival, had said, “The Managing Director of Eni Nigeria, Mr. Fabrizio Bolondi, invited the workforce to a meeting on September 4, 2023, and callously informed us that Eni has sold its 20 percent equity share in NAOC JV, comprising OML 60, 61, 62 and 63, covering parts of Rivers, Delta, Bayelsa, and Imo States to Oando Nigeria Limited, transferring all its assets and liabilities to Oando without recourse to outstanding financial obligations to the workers, vis-a-vis their employee savings plan, pension, and gratuity”.
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Business

Customs Seek Support To Curb Smuggling In Ogun

Published

1 hour ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Nigeria Customs Service(NCS), Ogun 1 Area Command, has solicited support in fighting smuggling and other economic crimes at the Nations border.

The Area Comptroller, Olukayode Afeni made the appeal in an interview with Newsmen in Idiroko, Ogun.

The comptroller stressed the need for the public to provide timely and reliable information to the Service, saying noting that fighting smuggling is a collective effort

“I urge the general public to join hands with NCS by providing timely and credible information that would help toward suppressing smuggling and other economic crimes.”

“Together, we can build a prosperous nation where compliance is the norm, and criminality has no place,” he said.

Afeni reiterated the command’s commitment to combat smuggling, and facilitating legitimate trade, as well as generate revenue for national development.

Chinedu Wosu

Business

IFAD: Nigeria Leads Global Push For Youth, Women Investment In Agriculture

Published

2 hours ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The 49th Session of the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) Governing Council has concluded in Rome, with Nigeria taking a prominent leadership role in advancing global agricultural development priorities, particularly strategic investment in youth and women.

The biennial meeting, themed “From Farm to Market: Investing in Young Entrepreneurs,” underscored the growing recognition of young people as critical drivers of job creation, innovation, and inclusive economic growth across global food systems.

The session opened with the election of Nigeria’s Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Senator Abubakar Kyari, as Chairperson of the IFAD Governing Council.

Having previously served as Vice Chair, his emergence as Chairperson reflects the strong confidence reposed in Nigeria by Member States, recognising the country’s constructive engagement and leadership in promoting global food security.

In his acceptance remarks, Senator Kyari expressed deep appreciation to Member States for the trust placed in him, pledging to serve with humility, diligence, and a strong commitment to improving the livelihoods of rural women and men across the world.

Addressing delegates during the session, the Chairperson emphasised that prioritising youth and women in agriculture is key to unlocking economic opportunities, accelerating innovation, and driving inclusive growth.

He noted that such investments would ultimately strengthen global food systems while helping to reduce hunger and poverty.

Senator Kyari also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for placing food security at the centre of Nigeria’s national priorities.

He noted that Nigeria’s leadership role at IFAD aligns with the President’s directive to boost agricultural productivity, expand economic opportunities for youth and women, and build resilient food systems capable of withstanding climate and market shocks.

The Minister further praised the IFAD Nigeria Country Office, led by Country Director Ms Dede Ekoue, for translating global development commitments into measurable outcomes for rural communities.

He highlighted the office’s role in strengthening agricultural value chains, empowering youth and women, and improving resilience among smallholder farmers nationwide.

Business

Expert Tasks FG On Food Imports To Protect Farmers

Published

3 hours ago

February 13, 2026

The Tide

The Federal Government has been urged to balance consumer protection with farmers’ sustainability by ensuring timely food imports, input subsidies expansion and price stabilisation mechanisms to secure investments across the agricultural value chain.

An agriculture expert, Dr Fatai Afolabi, gave the advice at a forum organised by the Plantation Owners’ Forum of Nigeria (POFON), in collaboration with the Oil Palm and Other Oil Seeds Value Chain, themed ‘Current Government Food Strategy, the Concomitant Effects and Implications for Food Security in Nigeria’, and held in Lagos, Wednesday.

Afolabi cautioned that the recent food import policies, while easing consumer prices, could undermine local farmers and long-term food security if not carefully managed.

He noted that Nigeria’s food system was navigating an exceptionally difficult period, marked by inflationary pressures, climate variability, insecurity in major food-producing regions, and rising energy and logistics costs.

He said the Federal Government’s decision to temporarily relax restrictions on selected food imports was understandable, noting that the market had responded swiftly with a reduction in prices of major staples.

However, the convener observed that while the policy had brought much-needed relief to consumers, it posed significant challenges for local farmers and agriculture value chain investors.

“While output prices have fallen, the cost of producing food in Nigeria remains stubbornly high.

“Farmers continue to contend with expensive fertilisers, rising transport costs, costly improved seeds and agrochemicals, limited access to affordable credit, poor electricity supply, weak road infrastructure, and inadequate storage and processing facilities, which result in significant post-harvest losses.

“This situation, where farmers sell produce at declining prices while production costs remain elevated, has created widespread distress across agricultural ecosystems,” he said.

Afolabi said the effects were being felt across all segments of agriculture, with rice farmers among the hardest hit.

He said reports from producing states indicated that about 3,500 rice farmers were considering exiting rice cultivation after incurring estimated losses of over N93 billion.

He added that cassava farmers were selling produce at prices that barely covered harvesting costs, leaving them unable to recover their investments.

According to him, vegetable and edible oil producers are also under pressure as imported vegetable oil brands reduce demand for locally processed alternatives.

He added that cocoa farmers continue to battle price volatility in international markets amid rising domestic labour and maintenance costs.

Afolabi noted that tree crops such as oil palm and cocoa, which require long gestation periods, were particularly vulnerable to sudden market disruptions that undermine investor confidence and discourage new investment.

He said the effects extended downstream to agro-processing and value addition, with soybean farmers supplying vegetable oil processors experiencing reduced demand and lower prices.

He said the development threatened not only farm incomes but also rural employment and agro-industrial growth, raising concerns about national food security.

According to him, sustained losses could force farmers out of production, increasing Nigeria’s dependence on food imports and exposing the country to global supply shocks, foreign exchange pressures and long-term vulnerabilities.

Afolabi cited India and the Netherlands as countries offering useful lessons in balancing consumer protection with farmer sustainability.

He said India deploys food imports strategically during shortages, while complementing them with strong domestic support systems.

He added that the Netherlands, despite being one of the world’s leading agricultural exporters, supports farmers through input subsidies, tax incentives, affordable energy, strong cooperatives, and close integration with research and extension services.

He said agricultural students in both countries also benefit from subsidised tuition, transportation and meals, as well as grants and start-up support for farm enterprises.

“This approach ensures generational continuity and innovation in the agricultural sector,” he said.

Afolabi said Nigeria’s current food import policy could play a stabilising role if complemented by deliberate measures to protect local producers.

He recommended carefully timed imports to avoid peak harvest periods, strengthened price stabilisation mechanisms, aggressive subsidies for critical farm inputs, and support for agro-processors to remain competitive.

He also called for clear communication of policy intentions to reassure farmers that import measures were strategic and temporary.

“Food imports should function as a strategic shock absorber rather than a permanent market feature.

“Government should develop and publish a national crop production and harvest calendar for major staples and align import decisions with documented supply gaps.

“Affordable food and profitable farming are not mutually exclusive goals. With thoughtful coordination and sustained support for farmers, Nigeria can achieve both,” he said.