Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — The Federal Government’s Presidential Directives 41 and 42 have emerged as the most transformative policy tools reshaping Nigeria’s oil and gas investment landscape in more than a decade, according to the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu A. Verheijen.
Verheijen speaking at the Practical Nigerian Content Forum, PNC, 2025, said the directives, signed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, are specifically designed to eliminate rent-seeking, slash project timelines, reduce contracting costs, and restore investor confidence in the Nigerian upstream sector.
“These directives are not just policy documents; they are enforceable commitments to make Nigeria competitive again,” she declared.
She noted that before the directives were issued, Nigeria faced chronic delays in contracting cycles, which discouraged capital inflows and stalled major upstream projects.
“For years, investment stagnated because our processes were too slow and too expensive. Presidential Directives 41 and 42 are removing those bottlenecks once and for all,” she said.
According to her, the directives have already begun to shift investor sentiment, unlocking billions of dollars in new commitments from international oil companies.
“We are seeing unprecedented investment inflows. Shell, Chevron and others are returning with confidence because they can now see credible timelines and competitive project economics,” Verheijen said.
Speaking on the link between streamlined contracting and local content development, she stressed that the directives were crafted to reinforce, not weaken, Nigerian participation.
“Local content is not an obstacle; it is a catalyst. It helps us meet national objectives, contain costs, and deliver projects faster when applied correctly,” she explained.
Verheijen highlighted that the directives complement the government’s data-driven approach to refining local content requirements while ensuring Nigerian talent and enterprises remain central to new investments.
“Our goal is to empower Nigerian companies with opportunities that are commercially sound and globally competitive,” she said.
She pointed to the current spike in industry activity, over 60 active drilling rigs, as evidence that the directives are driving real operational change.
“We have moved from rhetoric to results. These directives have triggered a new cycle of upstream development,” she said.
Verheijen added that the reforms are critical to achieving Nigeria’s production ambition of 3 million barrels of oil and 10 bscf of gas per day by 2030.
“To meet these targets, we need speed, efficiency, and collaboration across the value chain. The directives are the foundation for that,” she noted.
She also linked the directives to Nigeria’s broader regional ambitions, including its leadership role in the African Energy Bank.
“With a $100 million facility now launched, we are ensuring that investment translates into jobs, technology transfer, and long-term value for Nigeria,” she said.
Verheijen concluded by urging the industry to uphold the spirit and letter of the presidential instructions.
“These directives are a collective responsibility. Government, operators, financiers, and host communities must work together to deliver the Nigeria we envision,” she said. “We remain committed to ensuring Nigeria remains Africa’s premier investment destination.”
