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FG Pledges Stronger Support  For Oil, Gas Training

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The Federal Government has pledged stronger support for the Oil and Gas Trainers Association of Nigeria (OGTAN) to help build a world-class workforce for the country’s oil and gas industry.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, made the pledge while speaking in his keynote address at the just-concluded OGTAN Human Capital Development Conference and Expo, held in Warri, Delta State.

Lokpobiri said Nigeria was well-positioned to build a world-class oil and gas workforce, backed by growing investor confidence and an unprecedented pipeline of major projects heading towards Final Investment Decisions.

He described Nigeria as an emerging global investment hub, attributing the development to the incentive-driven reforms of President Bola Tinubu, which he said had improved the country’s competitiveness for international capital.

According to him, the pipeline of projects moving towards final investment decisions would require professionals trained to globally competitive standards, with much of the training expected to be delivered through OGTAN’s more than 400 members.

“Those human beings are members of the public who must have been trained by OGTAN, who are expected to have the competence to deliver those projects, not just for Nigeria, but for the entire world,” he said.

Lokpobiri noted that many lecturers and resource persons across Nigerian universities and tertiary institutions were still working with materials that had not kept pace with a modern, AI-driven industry.

He stressed the need to retrain trainers to equip the next generation of engineers, technicians and other professionals with the skills demanded by the industry.

“If the training system underpinning that capital is still operating on a 50-year-old blueprint, the risk is that Nigeria’s newly de-risked capital arrives faster than its newly-promised workforce can be built,” he said.

The minister said the Federal Government’s response to closing the skills gap was being channelled through the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board and the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act, in partnership with OGTAN, to strengthen training capacity nationwide.

“As government, what we do is see how we can support OGTAN members. The government is committed to this, and we are doing it through NCDMB and the NOGICD Act,” he said.

Lokpobiri urged OGTAN to expand its focus across the continent, noting that countries such as Angola, Congo and Gabon already depended on Nigerian-trained oil and gas professionals.

“The rest of Africa is depending on human resources from Nigeria, and someone must be responsible for training that human capital, not just for Nigeria,” he said.

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Oil & Energy

PENGASSAN Tasks FG On Stable Policies, Faster Approvals To Boost Oil, Gas Investment

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August 24, 2026

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The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has called on the Federal  Government and regulatory agencies to ensure policy stability, faster approvals and predictable regulations to attract more investment into the oil and gas sector.

PENGASSAN also urged the government to submit recent executive orders on the petroleum industry to the National Assembly as an executive bill seeking amendments to the Petroleum Industry Act, a process more transparent and involving all stakeholders.

The union made the demands in a Communiqué signed by the  PENGASSAN president, Comrade Festus Osifo, and its General Secretary, Comrade Jerry Amah, at the end of its three-day 5th PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit, held from August 19 to 21, 2026, in Abuja, and themed ‘Strengthening Regulatory Frameworks as a Catalyst for Stability and Growth in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry’.

PENGASSAN insisted Nigeria needed a stable and competitive fiscal and regulatory environment to attract the long-term capital required to develop its oil and gas resources.

It urged the government and regulatory institutions to minimise abrupt policy changes and ensure adequate consultation with stakeholders before introducing major changes in the industry.

PENGASSAN also called for improved coordination among regulatory and government agencies to eliminate overlapping mandates, repetitive approvals and conflicting directives which, it said, increased the cost of doing business and weakened Nigeria’s competitiveness for global energy capital.

The union said regulation should protect national interests, workers, host communities, investors, safety and the environment while enabling legitimate businesses to operate efficiently.

It urged regulators to embrace digitalisation, set clear approval timelines, and adopt transparent processes, arguing that regulatory effectiveness should be measured by its impact on investment, production, revenue generation, worker protection, and national value creation.

On investment and production, PENGASSAN said Nigeria could not rely solely on its large hydrocarbon reserves to attract investors, noting that the country was competing with other oil-producing jurisdictions for limited global capital.

It therefore urged the government to consolidate recent reforms and incentives that had encouraged fresh investments and Final Investment Decisions in the sector.

The association also identified gas as a key driver of industrialisation, noting that Nigeria had more than 215 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves regretting however that it is yet to fully convert the resource into reliable energy and economic growth.

It called for an integrated national gas development strategy covering upstream supply, processing, pipelines, storage, LNG, LPG and CNG infrastructure.

PENGASSAN further urged the government to accelerate the use of gas for electricity generation, manufacturing, transportation, fertiliser, petrochemicals and domestic cooking, while reducing routine gas flaring and methane emissions.

The union also called for sustained policies and investments to expand domestic refining capacity and reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products.

It stressed the need to protect refineries operating within Nigeria, including the Dangote and Waltersmith refineries, saying greater domestic refining and processing would create jobs, conserve foreign exchange and promote industrial development.

The summit brought together government representatives, regulators, oil and gas companies, investors, organised labour, industry professionals and other stakeholders.
Lady Godknows Ogbulu
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NCDMB, Renaissance, Lee, Engage 24 Youths On Oil, Gas Human Capital Dev’t Training

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August 24, 2026

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The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Renaissance Africa Energy Company Limited, and Lee Engineering Limited, have onboarded 24 Youths for a two-month Nigerian Content (NC) Human Capital Development (HCD) brush-up vocational training on the back of the Assa North-Ohaji South Gas Project in Imo State.

Areas listed for the intensive practical training programme within the facilities of ICON Lifting and Rigging Inspections Limited, a leading indigenous company in Port Harcourt, are crane operations, forklift operations, scaffolding, electrical installation, plumbing, refrigeration and air conditioning.

Drawn principally from Rivers and Imo States, every trainee is assured adequate personal attention from the trainers throughout the duration of the programme.

Speaking at the kick-off ceremony, the Executive Secretary of the NCDMB, Engr. Felix Omatsola Ogbe, represented by the Assistant Manager, Capacity Building Directorate (CBD) of the Board,  Tareowei Bufazi, noted that the trainees would acquire valuable knowledge, hands-on experience and competencies that could position them for meaningful participation in Nigeria’s growing energy sector and wider economy.

Explaining the relevance of the competencies covered in the programme, the Executive Secretary said, “These are critical vocational skills that support operations across the oil and gas industry and other sectors of our economy.” He urged the trainees to approach the opportunity before them with seriousness of purpose.

“Be disciplined when it is difficult, focused when it is tempting to relax, and committed when no one is watching,” he urged them, adding, “Ask questions; push yourselves, refuse mediocrity.”

To Renaissance Africa Energy Company, Lee Engineering, and other stakeholders, the NCDMB boss expressed appreciation for their commitment to developing local content and empowering host communities.

He said  “You are not just supporting a training programme; you are helping to build capability, create opportunities, and strengthen the future of our nation.”

Earlier in his opening remarks, the representative of Renaissance Africa Energy, Engr. Funsho Alabi, told the trainees that the sponsors of the programme are committed to empowering them through the training, adding that they are expected to become transformed after the acquisition of such knowledge and skills as would be imparted.

“Whatever you acquire here as knowledge will be part of you,” he explained, pointing out that while some would find themselves in the oil and gas industry, others could be profitably engaged in their own businesses, he stated.

Alabi urged the trainees to align themselves with the trainers for guidance while undergoing the programme and even at graduation, while assuring them that staff of Renaissance Africa and the NCDMB would be visiting them in the course of time to ensure that everything was proceeding according to plans.

In his closing remarks, the representative of Lee Engineering thanked the NCDMB and Renaissance Africa as well as the training organisation, ICON Lifting and Rigging Inspections, for their contributions to a successful take-off of the current group, listed as Batch B of the training programme. He solicited continued collaboration to achieve the goals of the exercise.

The Assa North-Ohaji South Gas Project, located in Ohaji/Egbema Local Government Area of Imo State, is an onshore greenfield gas development project with a processing capacity of 300 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscfd) under Phase 1.

The facility commenced Gas production in  January 2026.

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Civil Society Demands Accountability over N60Billion AKS Oil Producing Communities

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August 10, 2026

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A civil society organisation, the Centre for Human Rights and Accountability Network, (CHRAN) has demanded full disclosure of how over ?60bn allocated to oil-producing communities in Akwa Ibom State has been managed since the inauguration of the Host Community Development Trust in 2024.
The group also threatened to deploy legal measures against trustees who fail to account for projects and other interventions funded from the oil host community development allocations.
In a Statement signed by the Group State Director, Otuekong Franklin Isong, and Secretary, Research and Documentation, Comrade Etimbuk Ekpenyong, the organisation’s demand was prompted by complaints from residents who questioned the level of development in their communities despite the substantial funds accruing to the trust.
According to the statement, Its demand also followed a verification exercise conducted by it’s investigation Team into the activities of the EMOIMEE Host Community Development Trust, which covers seven oil and gas-producing local government areas in the state.
The affected councils in the statement are Eket, Mbo, Onna, Ikot Abasi, Mkpat Enin, Esit Eket and Eastern Obolo.
The statement said, during the CHRAN verification exercise, only the Eastern Obolo Board of Trustees had so far provided satisfactory responses to its requests for information made under the Freedom of Information Act.
The organisation said the failure of other trustees to disclose information had heightened concerns over the transparency and accountability in the management of funds intended for communities affected by oil exploration and production.
The group said it formally wrote to trustees representing Eastern Obolo, Esit Eket, Ikot Abasi, Onna and Mbo on May 25, 2026, requesting details of projects executed, locations, contractors, scholarships and beneficiaries, as well as other interventions financed by the trust.
According to CHRAN, the Eastern Obolo trustees, Rt. Hon. Uduyork J. Aboh and Mrs Lily Evans John, responded with documents detailing 29 projects executed in the local government area and scholarships awarded to 2,000 beneficiaries.
The organisation said it independently fact-checked the information supplied by the Eastern Obolo trustees and found it accurate.
CHRAN commended the trustees for responding to its request, describing the disclosure as an example of the transparency expected from institutions managing public-interest funds.
The organisation, however, said four other trustees had yet to respond to its requests.
Those named were Hon. E. Justus Ntuk of Ikot Abasi, Hon. Bassey Dan-Abia Jnr of Esit Eket, Engr. Clinton Akpan of Onna and Dr Asuquo Edet Inuikim of Mbo.
CHRAN urged the trustees to immediately disclose details of how the funds allocated to their respective host communities had been utilised.
It said failure to provide the requested information would leave it with no option but to pursue available legal avenues to compel disclosure.
On Legal battle over Eket fund, the Human Right Group said its accountability campaign had already resulted in legal action involving the Eket representative.
According to the group, it was earlier written separately to the trustees representing Mkpat Enin and Eket.
While the Mkpat Enin representative responded, CHRAN said the Eket trustee failed to provide the requested information.
The organisation said this led it to institute Suit No. FHC/CS/10/2026, which is currently pending before the Federal High Court.
The Group stressed that its demand was not aimed at witch-hunting the trustees but at ensuring that communities receive the benefits intended under the Petroleum Industry Act.
The group said the EMOIMEE trust was established in pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021, with Mobil Producing Nigeria limited as the settler and the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission as regulator.
It said the trust was incorporated under the Companies and Allied Matters Act on July 5, 2023, and formally inaugurated on July 18, 2024.
The organisation alleged that the trust had received over ?60bn from the NNPC/MPN Joint Venture since inception, making transparency in the utilisation of the funds particularly important.
CHRAN said the funds were intended to address developmental challenges in communities hosting oil and gas operations and to improve the quality of life of residents.
It therefore urged all trustees to make their records available for public scrutiny.
“Public accountability is not optional for a statutory trust managing funds meant for the collective benefit of host communities; it is a legal and moral obligation,” the organisation said.
The Human Rights Group further warned that it would explore all lawful measures available to compel trustees who refuse to provide the requested information to disclose how the funds had been spent.
The Group called on residents of the affected communities to remain vigilant and demand accountability for projects, scholarships and other interventions funded from the host community development allocations.
The organisation said the response from Eastern Obolo demonstrated that transparency was possible and should become the standard across all the host communities.
Enoch Epelle
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