The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has formalised a three-year partnership with SeaSeisGeophysical Limited (SeaSeis) and TGS to conduct new 3D seismic and gravity data acquisition under Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) No. 5, aimed at boosting hydrocarbon exploration in the Eastern Niger Delta.
The agreement, executed on Wednesday at the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, authorised the partnership to process seismic data, issue data-use licenses, and share generated revenues between the company and the Commission, according to company spokesman Eniola Akinkuotu.
The PEL No. 5 project spans 11,700 square kilometres offshore, in water depths ranging from 400 to 2,800 metres.
NUPRC officials said the initiative is expected to strengthen subsurface understanding, improve prospectivity, and support more efficient hydrocarbon development in compliance with Sections 71(1-10) of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
Speaking at the signing, NUPRC Chief Executive Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan emphasised the commission’s commitment to data-driven exploration, transparency, and sustainable value creation for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
“Exploration is fundamentally driven by confidence in data and processes. The PEL No. 5 initiative underscores the importance of credible partnerships in achieving national production and reserve growth targets,” she said.
“The PIA recognises that licences are assigned to contractors willing to carry out exploration, and maintaining production targets requires partners committed to exploring.”
Eyesan added that the licence execution signals a rising appetite for exploration activities in the sector.
SeaSeis Managing Director, Mr. Goke Adeniyi, described PEL 5 as the company’s largest project in Africa, highlighting its strategic location within the geologically complex Outer Fold & Thrust Belt of the eastern Niger Delta.
“We are confident that the resultant high-fidelity 3D seismic data will provide operators with the quality needed to evaluate prospects with greater certainty,” he said.
In a related development, the federal government inaugurated an inter-ministerial committee to oversee the operationalisation and management of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs) under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The ceremony, held in Abuja, was presided over by the Permanent Secretaries of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the Ministry of Regional Development, marking a key step toward improving coordination and delivering meaningful development initiatives to oil host communities.
Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, described the committee as central to advancing HCDT implementation.
“This initiative ensures benefits accrue meaningfully to host communities, building on engagements convened since 2025 to deepen collaboration among stakeholders,” she said.
She also highlighted updates from the NUPRC, noting progress in regulatory oversight through the Host Community Digital Portal, which tracks incorporation progress, remittances, approvals, compliance, and project execution milestones.
“Field verification exercises and alternative dispute resolution mechanisms have been integrated to ensure transparency and accountability,” Oyekunle added.
The committee, approved by Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, functions as a collaborative and advisory body.
Dr. Mary Ogbe, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Regional Development, urged members to apply themselves diligently to ensure success.
The committee’s mandate includes facilitating inter-agency collaboration, advising on HCDT implementation, promoting transparency and accountability, ensuring proper community representation, evaluating projects, and coordinating with relevant ministries to prevent duplication of programmes.
