What role does corporate counsel play in strengthening corporate governance in light of Nigeria’s recent reforms and stakeholder expectations?

Corporate counsel plays a pivotal role in strengthening corporate governance in Nigeria, particularly in light of reforms such as CAMA 2020 and increasing stakeholder scrutiny. At Amni, the legal function operates as a trusted adviser to the Board and senior management, ensuring that governance structures, board processes, and decision-making frameworks are compliant, transparent, and effective.

Beyond technical compliance, corporate counsel promotes accountability, ethical conduct, and sound risk management through guidance on conflicts of interest, disclosures, board documentation, and internal controls. This proactive governance approach helps prevent regulatory breaches, supports investor confidence, and safeguards corporate reputation.

How is your legal team navigating Nigeria’s evolving regulatory compliance requirements, particularly under CAMA 2020, ISA 2025, and Central Bank directives?

Amni’s legal team adopts a proactive and integrated approach to regulatory compliance. Under CAMA 2020, the team supports effective board governance, timely statutory filings, and ongoing regulatory monitoring.

The team also works closely with the finance function on compliance with Central Bank of Nigeria directives, advising on foreign exchange regulations, reporting obligations, and the regulatory implications of financing and commercial transactions. This collaborative approach ensures that regulatory compliance supports, rather than constrains, business objectives.

What strategies has your legal team adopted to manage disputes and mitigate risks in Nigeria’s dynamic business environment?

To manage disputes and mitigate risk, the legal team prioritises early risk identification, robust contract drafting, and clear dispute resolution mechanisms. Where disputes arise, negotiation and alternative dispute resolution are pursued to achieve efficient and commercially sensible outcomes. When litigation is unavoidable, matters are managed strategically with carefully selected external counsel.

Through continuous regulatory monitoring, internal policies, and cross-functional collaboration, the legal team focuses on preventing disputes, protecting Amni’s interests, and supporting long-term operational stability.

How do you advise on cross-border transactions and foreign investment, given Nigeria’s complex regulatory and dispute resolution landscape?

At Amni International Petroleum Development Company Limited, cross-border transactions and foreign investments are advised with a strong focus on regulatory certainty, risk allocation, and enforceability within Nigeria’s complex legal and dispute-resolution framework.

The legal team adopts a front-end regulatory structuring approach by conducting early regulatory mapping to identify required approvals and compliance obligations under NUPRC regulations, CAMA 2020, foreign exchange rules, tax laws, and sector-specific requirements. This ensures transactions are properly structured from inception and fully aligned with Nigerian law.

The team also manages transactional and contractual risk by working closely with foreign counterparties to produce clear, balanced, and bankable agreements. Contracts include robust provisions on governing law, dispute resolution, force majeure, stabilization, and termination, protecting Amni’s commercial interests while providing foreign investors with certainty, predictability, and legal comfort.