PIA Implementation ‘ll Revolutionize Nigeria’s Oil & Gas Industry–Wunti

The Group General Manager, National Petroleum Investment Management Services (NAPIMS), Mr. Bala Wunti, has said that the operationalization of the Petroleum Industry Bill will revolutionize the oil and gas industry.

The PIA which was signed into law by President Muhammadu Buhari on August 16 after it was passed by the National Assembly is targeted at reforming the oil and gas industry in Nigeria.

It is also aimed at promoting transparency and attracting capital flows into the oil and gas industry.

Speaking as a Lead Presenter at the Society for Petroleum Engineers Lagos Section Annual Technical Symposium, Wunti said the operationalization of the PIA will bring about certainty, competitiveness and cost optimization in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

He spoke on the theme, “Operationalizing the Petroleum Industry Act – An Opportunity for Revolutionizing Nigeria’s Oil and Gas Industry.”

During the symposium Wunti gave an overview of the major issues impacting the oil and gas industry, stating that tremendous progress had been made in tackling the issue of security and cost.

He added that the implementation of the Nigeria Upstream Cost Optimization Program (NUCOP) and an industry wide tripartite security framework would address cost and security issues respectively thereby brightening the oil and gas outlook for the country.

In highlighting the thematic areas of the PIA, he stated that the Act delineates clearly, the roles and responsibilities of all stakeholders.

This, he stated, would catalyze the growth of the industry in line with the aspirations of government for the sector as encapsulated in the PIA.

On the PIA implementation plan, Wunti stated that the incorporation of NNPC Limited and the inauguration of the NNPC Board had been completed and all hands are on deck to implement other requirements of the PIA within the set timelines.

He further stated that the 3E’s – Energy Transition, Energy Investment and Energy Crisis are key game changers in revolutionizing the oil and gas industry.

Specifically, Wunti explained that the recent energy crisis evidenced by the highest ever gas price was as a result of the global drive to achieve a net zero emission future buoyed by stringent Environmental, Social & Governance (ESG) requirements and activist investors.

In concluding, he urged stakeholders in the industry to adopt the 3C’s – Critical Thinking, Collaboration and Compliance as they are key to maximizing the benefits of the PIA for all stakeholders – Regulators, Investors, Operators, Contractors, Host Communities and Nigeria.