President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday signed three executive orders, targeted at positioning Nigeria as a preferred oil and gas investment destination in Africa.
In a statement by his Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale, the documents are in line with the President’s efforts to remove obstacles to investments in Nigeria, harness the nation’s resources and diversify the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians.
The orders are to introduce fiscal incentives for oil & gas projects, reduce contracting costs and timelines, as well as promote cost efficiency in local content requirements.
Below is the full statement:
STATE HOUSE PRESS RELEASE
PRESIDENT TINUBU SIGNS EXECUTIVE ORDERS ON OIL AND GAS REFORMS
In keeping with his dedicated efforts to remove obstacles to investments in Nigeria, harness the nation’s resources and diversify the economy for the benefit of all Nigerians, His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has executed Policy Directives to improve the investment climate and position Nigeria as the preferred investment destination for the oil & gas sector in Africa.
Following extensive engagements, analyses, and benchmarking with other jurisdictions, the President has initiated the amendment of primary legislation to introduce fiscal incentives for oil & gas projects, reduce contracting costs and timelines, and promote cost efficiency in local content requirements. Recognizing the urgency to accelerate investments, the President has directed as follows:
(1) Introduction of fiscal incentives for non-associated gas, midstream and deepwater developments.
(2) Streamlining of contracting process to compress the contracting cycle to six months.
(3) The application of the local content requirements without hindering investments or the cost competitiveness.
The details of these Policy Directives will be gazetted and communicated by the Federal Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
These incentives were developed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Justice, Federal Ministry of Finance, Federal Ministry of Petroleum, Federal Ministry of Budget and Economic Planning, Federal Inland Revenue Service, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, and the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board.
The Special Adviser to the President on Energy has been directed to continue coordinating the aforementioned stakeholders to ensure the implementation of these directives within a stipulated timeframe.
Chief Ajuri Ngelale
Special Adviser to the President
(Media & Publicity)
March 6, 2024