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At Heirs Energies Leadership Forum, Oil and Gas Leaders Unite to Drive Nigeria’s Oil Production Growth
The dialogue affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to increasing production,while maintaining environmental responsibility and leveraging gas as a transition fuel.
▪︎HEIRS ENERGIES LEADERSHIP FORUM 2025:
L-R: CCE, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe; CEO, Heirs Energies, Osa Igiehon; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Founder/Chairman, Heirs Holdings and Chairman Heirs Energies, Tony O. Elumelu, CFR; OPEC Board of Governors Chairman for Nigeria & CEO, First E&P, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero; CEO, Seplat Energy, Roger Brown and Executive Vice President, Upstream, NNPC Limited, Udobong Ntia, at the Heirs Energies’ Nigeria Petroleum Industry Discourse which held at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja.
Heirs Energies, Africa’s fastest growing indigenous integrated energy company, hosted its inaugural Petroleum Industry Leadership Dialogue at the Transcorp Hilton Abuja, bringing together public and private sector leaders to accelerateNigeria’s production growth.
Heirs Holdings’ subsidiary, Heirs Energies, convened the forum, moderated by CEO of Heirs Energies, Osayande Igiehon, and which featured distinguished speakers including the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; Chief Commission Executive, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe; Chairman, OPEC Board of Governors and CEO, First E&P, Adewale Adeyemo-Bero; Executive Vice-President Upstream, NNPC Limited, Udobong Ntia and CEO of Seplat Energy Plc, Roger Brown.
With a new administration and ambitious targets for production critical for Nigeria’s economic growth, the Dialogue provided a timely venue for private and public sectors to continue the successful interaction, that has already seen Nigeria crude production grow by 25%, since May 2023.
The speakers highlighted how a series of Presidential Executive Orders had radically reshaped the operating environment and catalysed industry growth.
Indigenous oil and gas companies were now responsible for more than 60% of Nigeria’s crude output and the successful indigenisation programme was delivering a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s natural resources history.
Tony Elumelu, Founder and Chairman of Heirs Holdings and Chairman of Heirs Energies, in his opening remarks, paid tribute to the catalytic role that current government had played in reinvigorating the sector.
Mr Elumelu also set out Heirs Holdings’ vision of transforming Africa’s energy landscape, through indigenous leadership and sustainable development.
Heirs Energies, in just four years, had rapidly grown its production from 21,000 to over 50,000 barrels per day of hydrocarbon.
Mr Elumelu also welcomed both public and private sector guests, emphasising the strong spirit of collaboration that underscored the successful indigenisation:
“Production growth, ambitious and sustained, is our shared national mission. I am honoured that Heirs Energies is bringing together distinguished peers from the industry and our partners in government.
As an investor not just in resources, but in Nigeria’s power production and distribution sectors, all of us, need to come together to ensure Nigerians get the benefits of our resources.
As we build Africa’s largest integrated energy business, innovation and collaboration are central to our execution”.
The dialogue affirmed Nigeria’s commitment to increasing production,while maintaining environmental responsibility and leveraging gas as a transition fuel.
Speaking at the forum, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, applauded Heirs Energies for hosting this inaugural event.
Indigenous oil and gas companies were now responsible for more than 60% of Nigeria’s crude output and the successful indigenisation programme was delivering a bold new chapter in Nigeria’s natural resources history.
“Let me express our gratitude to Heirs Energies for providing this platform for meaningful industry engagement.”
The Minister announced Nigeria’s oil production had reached 1.8 million barrels per day in January 2025 and set an ambitious target of 2.5 million barrels per day for 2025.
He also reaffirmed the administration’s “drill or drop” policy to accelerate production growth.
The Petroleum Industry Leadership Dialogue, which will become an annual event, brought together key stakeholders in the oil and gas industry, including MD of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, Osagie Okunbor; Managing Director of Aradel Holdings, Adegbite Falade and industry veteran and founder of Platform Petroleum & Managing Director A.A Holdings, Austin Avuru, among others.
NUPRC Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, empahsised the dialogues significance in advancing the sectors objectives,
“I thank Heirs Energies for this beautiful initiative of putting together the Petroleum Industry Leadership Dialogue as a commitment to achieving our national objective in the upstream sector.”
He highlighted the surge in active drilling rigs to 38, with projections to reach 50 by March 2025.
OPEC Board of Governors Chairman for Nigeria and CEO, First E&P, Ademola Adeyemi-Bero, commended the forum’s timing, noting “It’s apt.
It’s early in the year and it’s about how we grow production.
That’s why you see all of us participating.” He shared how indigenous operators have successfully increased production, citing his company’s achievement of 57,000 barrels per day from previously untapped fields.Heirs Energies CEO, Osa Igiehon, reinforced this perspective, showcasing Heirs Energies’ impact in Nigeria’s onshore sector.
“Our success at Heirs Energies demonstrates what’s possible in Nigeria’s onshore sector, through our Brownfield Excellence Strategy, robust security measures, and genuine community partnership,” he said.
“By tripling our producing wells to over 100, we’ve shown how indigenous operators can efficiently unlock value while ensuring sustainable development of host communities.
“The Petroleum Industry Leadership Dialogue also exemplified Heirs Energies’ commitment to Mr Elumelu’s Africapitalism, the private sector’s transformative role in driving Africa’s economic and social development through strategic, long-term investments hinged on partnership and collaboration.
Heirs Energies Limited is Africa’s leading indigenous-owned integrated energy company, committed to meeting Africa’s unique energy needs while aligning with global sustainability goals.
With a strong focus on innovation, environmental responsibility, and community development, Heirs Energies leads in the evolving energy landscape and contributes to a more prosperous Africa.
Heirs Energies is a key implementor of Heirs Holdings integrated energy strategy, Africa’s largest integrated energy business, , whose objective is to ensure Africans benefit directly from their continent’s resources.
The Police Service Commission has vowed to flush out drug addicts in the Nigeria Police Force and has extended an invitation to the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency to assist the Commission achieve this noble objective.
In a statement on Tuesday, Ikechukwu Ani, Head, Press and Public Relations said the PSC chairman made the vow during a visit to the Corporate Headquarters of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency where it formally met with the Agency’s Chairman and Chief Executive and his Management team.
It said the Chairman of the Commission, DIG Hashimu Argungu, used the occasion to invite the Agency to join the Commission in all the processes of screening prospective Nigerians who are desirous of joining the Nigeria Police Force.
DIG Argungu, who was received by Brigadier General Buba Marwa, Chairman of the Agency, said there was need for a functional partnership between the Commission and the Agency in the fight to eradicate drug abuse in the Nigeria Police.
He commended the Agency for the assistance in screening intakes of the Police Academy, Wudil Kano which he said has drastically reduced the incidences of drug addiction by students of the Academy.
The PSC Chairman said there was need to upscale this assistance to cover the Recruitment processes in the Nigeria Police Force.
“We want you to help us fish out the drug addicts who obviously should not be allowed to get into and corrupt the system. We want to get it right and get the Police to work “.
DIG Argungu said it was dangerous to give fire arms to drug addicts and vowed that the Commission is poised to flush out such Officers in the Police Force.
The Chairman commended his host for his track record of excellence in the service of the nation.General Marwa, in his response, congratulated the Chairman on his deserved appointment and prayed for his success.
He pledged the Agency’s commitment to assist the Commission sanitize Police Recruitment.” We will try our best to bring the menace to an end, but it requires intelligence, sharing intelligence, training” he noted.
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RULAAC Commends DSS DG’s Human Rights Reforms, Tasks IGP to Emulate Same in the Nigeria Police Force
In stark contrast, the Nigeria Police Force has persistently failed to act on similar cases of abuse, even in the face of clear court judgments and public outrage.
July 22, 2025 – Lagos, Nigeria:
The Rule of Law and Accountability Advocacy Centre (RULAAC) has Commended the Director -General of the Department of State Services (DSS), Mr. Tosin Ajayi, for demonstrating a rare and commendable commitment to upholding human rights, the rule of law, and institutional accountability.
Okechukwu Nwanguma Executive Director of RULAAC, have the commendation today in a media statement.
The statement reads:
“We note with satisfaction the recent steps taken under his leadership to:-
Release a number of unlawfully detained individuals, including Abdulyakini Salisu, who had been in detention since 2022;-
Pay financial compensation to victims of unlawful arrest, wrongful detention, and mistaken identity;-
Tender official apologies to affected individuals;-
Provide medical support and rehabilitation to victims;-
Take disciplinary action against erring operatives responsible for these violations.
These actions represent a significant departure from the long-standing culture of impunity in Nigeria’s security sector and offer a concrete example of how security agencies can demonstrate — rather than merely tout — respect for human rights and the rule of law.
In stark contrast, the Nigeria Police Force has persistently failed to act on similar cases of abuse, even in the face of clear court judgments and public outrage.
A notable example remains the case of Glory Okolie, a young woman illegally detained by police officers attached to the Intelligence Response Team (IRT) in 2021 for over 150 days, during which she was abused and dehumanized.
Despite a Federal High Court judgment awarding her ₦60 million in damages and ordering her release, the Nigeria Police neither issued an apology nor took any disciplinary or remedial action.
RULAAC therefore calls on the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to:
1. Publicly acknowledge and apologize for past and ongoing human rights violations under the Nigeria Police Force;
2. Comply fully with all outstanding judicial orders, including payment of damages to victims like Glory Okolie;
3. Set up a dedicated human rights audit committee within the Force to review and redress cases of unlawful detention and abuse;
4. Institute disciplinary action against officers who violate human rights, as a deterrent and commitment to reform;
5. Embrace a leadership approach grounded in transparency, justice, and accountability, similar to the path now being charted by the DSS.
The credibility of Nigeria’s democracy hinges on the conduct of its law enforcement agencies.
We cannot continue to condone a culture where police impunity is the norm and citizens’ rights are routinely violated without consequence.
The recent actions by the DSS DG show that reform is possible — where there is the will.
The IGP and the Nigeria Police Force must show that they, too, are capable of change.
There was drama at the entrance of the National Assembly complex in Abuja on Tuesday as security operatives barred suspended Kogi Central lawmaker, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, from gaining access to the premises.
The senator arrived at the gate accompanied by activist Aisha Yesufu, rights advocate Mama P, activist Randy, and a crowd of supporters, but was denied entry by security officials.
Yesufu, in a bid to intervene, confronted the officers stationed at the gate and challenged the order allegedly issued to block Natasha’s entry.
She said, “National Assembly is meant to be for everyone. Why are you stopping us?
“We are not abiding doesn’t mean we are cowards,” she said.
The standoff quickly escalated as some supporters began chanting “Push!” while attempting to force their way in.
Natasha’s supporters were later seen marching toward the complex, chanting solidarity songs.
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