By Eyo Nsima

Nigeria’s Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, said the Federal Government has intensified efforts, targeted at concluding the sale of ExxonMobil assets to Seplat Energy Plc.

He said President Bola Tinubu has already directed him to ensure all issues hindering investment and production with all stakeholders, including Seplat Energy Plc, a leading Nigerian independent energy company listed on both the Nigerian Exchange Limited and the London Stock Exchange are resolved without delay.

Speaking on – Funding Our Way of the Current Crisis: Looking up to the Oil and Gas industry – at the Second Quarter 2024 Dinner, organised by the Petroleum Club in Lagos, Monday evening, he said: “The President has directed that we resolve all issues hindering investment in the industry. There are many well that have been idle for years. I have been engaging stakeholders, including the International Oil Companies, IoCs and indigenous oil companies on how to keep the idle oil wells open.

“ExxonMobil assets have been idle for a while and we have to resolve problems currently delaying Seplat Energy from taking them up because a lot of impact would be made. The exploitation of the assets would go a long way in increasing Nigeria’s production capacity as well as in creating additional jobs for our people.

“It will speak volumes to the international community that Nigeria is an investment destination in Africa. It will also show that we have respect for the Ease of Business. So, as a government we have decided to resolve the issues to ensure Seplat Energy acquire the assets.”

Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri also joined other stakeholders to celebrate Seplat Energy Plc, Nigeria’s leading independent energy company, at the NGX Closing Gong Ceremony to mark a Decade of Listing of Seplat Energy on the NGX and the London Stock Exchange, on Tuesday.

Recently, the Chief Executive Officer, Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown, who attended the event had stated: “There is increasing confidence that President Tinubu’s administration will approve our acquisition of ExxonMobil’s share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited (MPNU).

“We remain confident that we can conclude our transformational acquisition of MPNU. We wholly align with and support President Tinubu’s efforts to make Nigeria a more attractive place to invest, and we will play our part by delivering affordable and reliable energy that will support our nation’s growth.”