Nigeria 2025
 Licensing
 Round

Nigeria's oil and gas sector offers significant investment opportunities, but foreign companies must navigate one of Africa's most comprehensive local content regimes. Understanding the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development Act 2010 and its enforcement mechanisms is essential for lawful market entry, contract awards, and sustainable operations in this resource-rich jurisdiction.

The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), pursuant to Section 167, the Third and Fourth Schedule of the Petroleum Industry Act...

A free zone company is a company registered and situated in a free zone. A free zone is a designated geographical area within a country where companies set up to enjoy exemptions or reduced taxes, customs duties, and regulations.

Gas flaring has been a source of pollution in the Niger Delta region for more than six decades, polluting the atmosphere the soil, and eroding the lives of communities living in one of the most oil-rich regions in Africa. The Nigerian government's efforts at solving this environmental problem have been characterized by delay and capture. The enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act 20212 represents the most ambitious legislative attempt yet to bring routine flaring to an end, through an explicit statutory prohibition, mandatory monetisation planning, and a new institutional architecture anchored around the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.

The above definition accommodates any international or Nigerian company that is operating in the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

The Petroleum Industry Act 2021 ("PIA") has fundamentally restructured Nigeria's upstream petroleum licensing framework. Among other reforms, it replaced the previous licensing regime of the Petroleum Act (PA) and changed the licence type nomenclature with the introduction of the Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL), Petroleum Prospecting Licence (PPL), and Petroleum Mining Lease (PML).

The basis of environmental policy in Nigeria is contained in the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

Nigeria's 2026 Net Billing Regulations represent a transformative shift in the country's energy landscape, enabling businesses to transition from passive electricity consumers to active prosumers who can generate, consume, and sell solar power back to the grid. This regulatory framework introduces new opportunities and considerations for commercial entities looking to invest in renewable energy infrastructure. Understanding the legal and operational implications of these regulations is crucial for businesse

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria's Federal Government challenging petroleum import licences issued by the regulatory authority, claiming they violate court orders and undermine domestic refining capacity. With the refinery supplying over 81% of national fuel demand in early 2026, this legal battle raises critical questions about Nigeria's path to energy independence and the balance between supporting local production and maintaining competitive fuel markets. The outcome cou

Nigeria has confirmed world-class mineral deposits including lithium reserves estimated at 3.3 million tonnes near Abuja, but a critical legal reality complicates extraction: under Nigerian law, minerals belong to the Federal Government regardless of land ownership. This creates a complex regulatory landscape where investors must navigate federal mineral rights, state surface rights, community development agreements, and a tiered licensing system that has already seen over 3,000 titles revoked for non-compl

Nigeria's Central Bank has issued a sweeping directive requiring all payment and financial transaction data generated within the country to be processed and stored locally by January 2027. This regulatory shift forces fintech companies to abandon their reliance on global cloud platforms like AWS and Azure, introducing significant operational costs, infrastructure risks, and compliance complexities. The mandate affects not only licensed financial institutions but extends throughout the entire fintech ecosyst

Nigeria has introduced comprehensive tax guidelines for virtual assets, requiring VASPs to withhold taxes, collect stamp duties, and maintain detailed records. The new framework classifies crypto assets into six categories and imposes income tax, VAT, and stamp duty on various transactions, fundamentally changing compliance obligations for cryptocurrency platforms operating in Nigeria.

The process for dissolution of a marriage in Nigeria depends on whether the couple entered into a statutory marriage or a traditional marriage. Customary marriages are dissolved in line with the customs...

Pre-action notices have become pivotal in the evolution of our civil processes in Nigeria, with the concept finding its way into our rules of court, practice directions, and procedures...

When structuring a facility in leveraged finance, it is important to bear in mind that a lender's protection is only as strong as the loopholes in the financing agreement.

The Evidence (Amendment) Act 2023 (the "Amendment Act") was signed into law by the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria on 12th June 2023.

A Deed of Assent (Assent) is an instrument or legal document that comes into existence in furtherance of the devolution of title to real property to beneficiaries under a Will.

When the Central Bank of Nigeria revoked the operating licences of 46 microfinance banks in July 2026, fintech companies relying on these institutions for customer accounts and settlement infrastructure faced immediate operational disruption. This analysis examines the regulatory grounds for revocation, the deposit insurance framework administered by the NDIC, and the critical due diligence and resilience measures fintech companies must implement when their products depend on regulated banking partners.

The Dangote Petroleum Refinery has filed a lawsuit against Nigeria's Federal Government challenging petroleum import licences issued by the regulatory authority, claiming they violate court orders and undermine domestic refining capacity. With the refinery supplying over 81% of national fuel demand in early 2026, this legal battle raises critical questions about Nigeria's path to energy independence and the balance between supporting local production and maintaining competitive fuel markets. The outcome cou

In March 2024, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) released the Banking Sector Recapitalization Programme (FPR/DIR/PUB/CIR/002/009)...