NUPRC @5: My friend got oil block without political connections – Shettima
Vice President Kashim Shettima says Nigeria’s oil blocks are now awarded through open processes, citing a friend who secured one without political connecti Read More:…
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) was established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 to oversee technical and commercial activities in the upstream oil and gas sector, replacing the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources. One of its key mandates has been to reform the award of oil blocks and licences, a process long dogged by allegations of opacity, cronyism and political patronage dating back to previous licensing rounds and discretionary allocations.
At the commission's fifth anniversary, Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, used the occasion to defend the transparency of the current licensing regime, citing the example of a personal friend who allegedly secured an oil block without leveraging political ties. The remarks touch on a politically sensitive issue, as past administrations have faced criticism over opaque block allocations, and come as the Tinubu government seeks to project its oil sector reforms as merit-based and investor-friendly. Neither outlet has reported further details on the friend's identity, the block in question, or the specific process cited.