NUPRC-SeaSeis Seismic Data Project, Future Of Nigeria’s Oil And Gas Sector

Recently, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) signed a three-year Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) agreement with SeaSeis Geophysical Limited (SeaSeis), authorising the company, in partnership with the Commission and TGS, to undertake the acquisition and processing of new 3D seismic and gravity data.

The major seismic data acquisition project, PEL No. 5, covers an area of 11,700 square kilometres offshore in the Outer Fold and Thrust Belt of the eastern Niger Delta, in water depths of 400–2,800 metres. This zone is one of Nigeria’s most prolific yet geologically complex regions.

The agreement, signed on March 24, 2026, also empowers the partnership to issue data-use licences, with revenues to be shared between the company and the Commission.

Upon assumption of office in December 2025, the Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, emphasised the importance of data integrity in operations and stated clearly that every aspect of the Commission’s work must be measurable and demonstrably so. “Going forward, NUPRC positions itself on the tape line to be measured by faster, predictable regulatory approvals; secure and sustainable production; credible licensing and disciplined acreage performance; world-class HSE and process safety; and trusted measurement, transparency, governance, and data integrity.”

Emphasising that success will be judged not by policy volume but by tangible outcomes such as higher production, safer operations, reduced losses, credible data, faster approvals, and stronger investor confidence, the CCE fixed her gaze not only on increasing production levels but on doing so at reduced cost. The signing of the recent data acquisition project aligns with this commitment. She reiterated this during the agreement signing, noting that the issuance of the PEL 5 licence reflects the Commission’s continued commitment to data-driven exploration, transparency and long-term value creation for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

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The licence is expected to unlock stronger prospecting potential, enhance subsurface understanding and support more efficient development of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources, in line with Section 71(1–10) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. The project itself entails the acquisition of new 3D seismic and gravity data and is highly significant for Nigeria’s oil industry. Fundamentally, it is about improving subsurface knowledge, providing a clearer and more accurate picture of what lies beneath the country’s sedimentary basins.

It enables better identification of new oil and gas reserves, as 3D seismic technology offers far greater detail. This allows geoscientists to map underground structures with increased precision, thereby reducing exploration uncertainty. Consequently, it increases the chances of discovering commercially viable hydrocarbon deposits, especially in underexplored frontier basins. It also reduces exploration risk. By generating high-quality data that can be marketed to investors, the NUPRC lowers entry barriers. Oil companies are more likely to invest when guided by reliable data.

In addition, the project creates a new revenue stream, as multiple companies can purchase and utilise the data. This enhances Nigeria’s attractiveness during licensing rounds and helps draw both international oil companies and indigenous firms. Furthermore, it will help revitalise dormant or underexplored basins. Areas that previously lacked detailed data, such as parts of inland basins or deep offshore zones, can now be reassessed using modern technology, potentially unlocking new production zones.

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This serves as a boost to Nigeria’s efforts to meet its oil production quota under the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). It is noteworthy that Nigeria’s production quota depends not only on existing wells but also on sustainable reserves and new discoveries. Therefore, this initiative contributes in several ways, including expanding the reserves base, enabling faster field development, improving production efficiency and boosting investor confidence and activity levels. Indeed, increased exploration activity leads to more drilling and ultimately more production. Without continuous exploration, production naturally declines as older fields mature.

The broader implication is that this agreement signals a data-driven strategy to reverse the long-standing challenge of meeting OPEC quotas, often caused by underinvestment, ageing infrastructure and declining reserves replacement. Simply put, more accurate data leads to more discoveries, more investment and more production. While the impact may not be immediate, in terms of increased output, which is typically incremental, the medium to long-term outlook is promising, especially with improvements in security, infrastructure and regulatory stability.

This move is significant because OPEC quotas depend largely on what a country can sustainably produce, not merely what it aspires to produce. The project supports reserve replacement, unlocks new basins and increases drilling success rates. With this strategic initiative, the NUPRC is not merely regulating; it is building a national data repository. This repository will not only serve as a store of critical data but will also generate revenue, as organisations pay for access. In effect, the country can earn income even before oil is discovered, while also making licensing rounds more competitive.

Thus, the agreement serves as a foundation for Nigeria’s future oil output: it reduces uncertainty, attracts capital, improves discovery rates and supports long-term production growth. This outlook becomes even stronger as government agencies address insecurity in oil-producing areas, sustain policy stability and improve the investment climate.

That Nigeria possesses substantial reserves yet struggles with low output is no longer news. The challenge lies not in resource availability but in production constraints. The NUPRC–SeaSeis–TGS project is poised to address these challenges significantly, complementing other integrated strategies aimed at increasing oil and gas production. It targets structural, long-term issues, including declining discoveries, weak exploration-to-production cycles and underutilised frontier and deepwater potential, while also improving efficiency in existing fields.

A notable strategic shift is evident: Nigeria is transitioning from a passive regulator to an active data provider and investment enabler. This is critical because data drives exploration decisions globally, and countries with high-quality data attract more capital.

Although this project may not immediately resolve Nigeria’s challenges in meeting its OPEC quota, it positions the country to meet, and potentially exceed, future quotas sustainably. Without such initiatives, production would continue to decline, risking reduced relevance in global oil markets. With them, alongside broader reforms, Nigeria stands to achieve new discoveries, increased reserves and higher long-term output.

NUPRC-SeaSeis

Eyesan has emphasised that the PEL 5 initiative underscores the importance of credible partnerships in achieving national production and reserve growth targets: “The PIA recognises that licences can be assigned on non-exclusive acreages to contractors willing to undertake exploration activities. As the chief superintendent of the industry, we must also maintain our production targets, including reserves. The only way to achieve this successfully is through partnerships with committed explorers.”

The project is SeaSeisGeophysical Limited’s largest in Africa, according to its managing director, Goke Adeniyi. Adeniyi noted that the project underscores the scale of opportunity within Nigeria’s upstream sector. “We are pleased to be here, not just as SeaSeis but in partnership with TGS,” he said at the signing ceremony. His organisation will leverage TGS’s GeoStreamer dual-sensor technology, featuring long offsets, wide tow, and triple-source broadband acquisition.

The resulting high-fidelity 3D seismic data is expected to provide operators with the quality needed to evaluate prospects with greater confidence.

James, a fellow of the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE) and member of the International Press Institute (IPI), lives in Abuja.

Abia State Won’t Get Paid For Fixing Federal Roads, Says Governor Otti

Abia State won’t get paid for fixing federal roads. Mr Otti said the new federal government’s policy was that states could toll such roads “if they want their money back.”

Abia state governor, Alex Otti
Abia state governor, Alex Otti
Governor Alex Otti of Abia says the federal government has no plans to reimburse the state for federal road projects his administration executed.

Speaking at his monthly media interactive session with journalists on Friday night, Mr Otti said the new federal government’s policy was that states could toll such roads “if they want their money back.”

He reiterated his administration’s commitment to fixing all Abia roads, federal or state, saying, “They’re all used by Abia residents.”

“Before we jump on any federal road, we have long engagements with the federal government, and those roads must be ceded to us in writing,” he said.

Mr Otti also addressed compensation concerns for the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road rehabilitation, saying he expected the federal government to pay since it awarded the project without funding.

He said, “We always pay compensation on any route we are entering.

Abia State

“But then, my understanding is that, if there was any compensation to be paid, the federal government should have done so because the route was actually awarded but was not funded. So, that’s my understanding. I can’t be too sure.”

The state government had undertaken to rehabilitate critical federal roads, including the Umuahia-Ikot Ekpene Road, the Owerrinta-Umuikaa dual carriageway, and the Ohafia-Arochukwu Road, among others.

The governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to establishing a state police.

He said, “The new general manager for Homeland Security is working with his team to get us ready once the whistle is blown.”

Mr Otti ruled out any possible defection to another party, saying he would run for reelection on the Labour Party (LP) platform in 2027.

According to him, the Supreme Court decision has settled the party leadership crisis.

He, therefore, urged interested Nigerians to register for LP membership.

Mr Otti described the progress on the newly introduced electric buses as “exciting,” saying 30 more buses were expected by July, bringing the total to 50.

NSAP Seeks Strong Military Support To Tackle Insecurity In Livestock Sector

livestock sector. Olaniyi Babayemi, the president of the Nigerian Society for Animal Production (NSAP), has urged stronger civil-military collaboration to enhance livestock production and tackle security challenges.

Mr Babayemi spoke on Saturday at a media briefing ahead of the Society’s 51st annual conference, scheduled for Monday at the Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA), Kaduna.

He said the theme, ‘Civil-Military Collaboration for Sustainable Livestock Production and National Security,’ would highlight the growing link between agriculture and national security.

Mr Babayemi, also Vice-Chancellor of the Federal University of Agriculture and Technology, Okeho, Oyo State, said livestock production now plays a vital role in national stability.

“Where farmers and herders cannot operate safely, food production declines, livelihoods are disrupted, and instability increases,” he said.

He noted that the military’s logistics, intelligence, and operational strengths could help secure grazing routes and farming communities.

According to Mr Babayemi, the collaboration does not mean militarising agriculture but creating a safe and enabling environment for productivity.

He emphasised peaceful coexistence between pastoralists and farmers, advocating ranching, controlled grazing, and improved feed management as sustainable solutions.

“The future of livestock production depends on peaceful coexistence. Productivity and harmony must go hand in hand,” he added.

He said about 1,000 participants, including officials, military leaders, academics, and industry stakeholders, would attend the conference.

Mr Babayemi also highlighted achievements, including stronger institutional frameworks, expanded global engagement, and plans for a permanent Abuja secretariat.

He expressed optimism that the conference would yield practical recommendations to boost production, reduce conflicts, and strengthen national stability.

“Food security is everyone’s responsibility. A secure livestock sector means a more stable and prosperous nation,” he said.

Also speaking, the local organising committee chairman, Philip Vantsawa, described the choice of the Nigerian Defence Academy as strategic and unprecedented.

Mr Vantsawa said the decision departed from over five decades of hosting the conference solely in civilian universities.

According to him, the move aligns with the theme and reflects the need for cross-sector collaboration.

“NDA has never hosted a conference of this scale. As sub-Saharan Africa’s premier military university, it is the most suitable venue,” he said.

He said the conference would bring together scientists, agricultural experts, and security stakeholders to address pressing national challenges, especially farmer-herder conflicts.

Mr Vantsawa added that it would foster collaboration between civilian experts and the military to develop sustainable solutions.

“We are fully prepared to receive participants. The conference will deliver actionable strategies to address recurring livestock sector conflicts,” he said.

He said a key outcome would be a communiqué outlining a practical policy blueprint for government and stakeholders.

NSAP

According to him, it will chart a new direction for resolving farmer-herder crises and improving animal production systems.

Mr Vantsawa also conveyed the readiness of the academy’s leadership to host participants from across Nigeria and beyond.

“At the end, we expect robust collaboration and recommendations to guide policy and ensure lasting solutions,” he added.

The conference is expected to attract participants from academia, government agencies, the military, and the private sector.