What do you believe is the single most important factor driving up the cost of living in Nigeria?

She added that this goal is backed by new fiscal incentives aimed at boosting investment in the oil and gas sector.

President Bola Tinubu recently announced these incentives, which include a waiver on Value Added Tax for gas, diesel, and related equipment, along with tax credits for new investments in deepwater oil and gas production.

Verheijen emphasised the need for these reforms noting, “Since Nigeria’s last deepwater project – the Egina project was approved in 2013, International Oil Companies operating in Nigeria have committed more than $82bn in deepwater investments to other countries that they deem more competitive.

“Over the next few years, they plan to spend another $90bn to develop deepwater oil and gas projects. This is the pool of funds that our reforms are targeting, and we intend to unlock between $5bn to $10bn of new investments in Nigeria in the near- to medium-term.”

She stated that these reforms aim to create many new jobs, increase foreign exchange earnings, and improve tax revenues adding that with approximately 76 per cent of Nigeria’s gas resources still untapped, the government hopes to enhance energy security and stimulate economic growth.

• Read More