The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has presided over the formal handover of the OLO Oilfield Host Community Development Trust from TotalEnergies to Aradel Holdings, in what officials described as a major milestone in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and the protection of host community interests during operator transitions.

The ceremony, held at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together senior officials of the regulator, executives of both companies, and representatives of the OLO host communities to formally complete the transfer of settlor responsibilities under the trust.

A statement issued by the NUPRC Head, Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, on Friday said the move is expected to ensure continuity in community development programmes despite the change in operator of the Olo/Olo West marginal field.

The OLO Host Community Development Trust was established in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, which mandates operators to contribute three per cent of their previous year’s operating expenditure to support sustainable development in host communities.

Between 2023 and 2025, the trust has enabled the completion of more than 100 projects covering water supply, electricity, road construction, education, and healthcare. About 40 additional projects are currently ongoing, with over 25,000 residents across the host communities said to have benefited directly from the interventions.

TotalEnergies previously operated the Olo/Olo West marginal field within the former OML 58 in the Eastern Niger Delta before its acquisition by Aradel Holdings, making the transfer of responsibilities under the trust a statutory and operational requirement.

The oil major confirmed that all obligations up to the date of transfer had been fully met and that there were no outstanding liabilities. Aradel has now formally assumed full responsibility following the Commission’s regulatory consent.

Speaking at the ceremony, the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, who was represented by the Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Capt John Tonlagha, said the transition demonstrates the effectiveness of the PIA framework in safeguarding host community interests.

He said the trust’s structure and governance have been preserved, ensuring that ongoing projects will continue without disruption.

“The Olo Oilfield Host Community Development Trust remains intact. Its governance structure has been preserved, and its statutory funding obligations are transitioning seamlessly to the new settlor, exactly as envisioned by the Petroleum Industry Act,” Tonlagha said.

He added, “The commission will continue to provide firm and consistent oversight to ensure full compliance with the provisions of the Act for the benefit of both the host communities and the industry. This is a critical component of building trust and stability in Nigeria’s upstream sector.”

In his remarks, the General Manager, Community Affairs, Projects and Development at TotalEnergies, Dornu Kogam, urged the new operator to sustain the transparent and inclusive engagement model that had guided the implementation of projects.

“We encourage Aradel Holdings to maintain the same transparent, community-centred approach. The success recorded so far is the result of sustained dialogue, mutual respect, and shared development goals,” he said.

Responding, the Community Affairs Manager of Aradel Holdings, Blessyn Okpowo, assured stakeholders of the company’s commitment to fulfilling its obligations and sustaining the development momentum.

“We want to assure the host communities and the Commission that, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act, we will honour all commitments and duties required of the settlor. We also intend to work very smoothly and continue the engagement model established by TotalEnergies,” he said.

The Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the OLO Host Community Development Trust, Wale Godwin, commended the progress recorded so far, noting that 118 projects had already been delivered out of 160 planned.

He also praised the regulator’s oversight role, particularly its approval of the Community Development Plan before the commencement of projects.

“We appreciate the commission for ensuring proper regulatory guidance and approval processes. This has strengthened transparency and confidence among stakeholders and ensured that projects are aligned with the real needs of the communities,” he said.

The host community framework under the Petroleum Industry Act is widely regarded as one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. It was introduced to address longstanding grievances in oil-producing communities over environmental degradation, poverty, and perceived neglect despite decades of resource extraction.

Under the law, operators are required to set up Host Community Development Trusts and contribute three per cent of their annual operating expenditure to fund sustainable development initiatives.

This model is designed to reduce conflicts, curb pipeline vandalism, and promote stability in the Niger Delta by ensuring that communities derive measurable benefits from oil operations.

The successful transition of the OLO trust signals growing confidence in the new regulatory regime and highlights the importance of continuity and accountability in community development amid asset divestments and acquisitions across Nigeria’s upstream sector.

MTN Nigeria said it invested N1tn in 2025 to expand fibre infrastructure, roll out additional base stations and strengthen network capacity nationwide, as the country’s biggest telco returned to profitability after a choking financial year marked by foreign exchange pressures and negative equity.

The capital expenditure, more than double the prior year’s spending, formed part of a broader recovery that saw the company post a profit after tax of N1.1tn for the year ended December 31, 2025. The rebound followed a difficult 2024 in which MTN suspended dividend payments and grappled with balance sheet strain.

Chief Executive Officer Dr Karl Toriola described 2025 as a defining year for the company, linking the improved earnings position to renewed long-term infrastructure investment.

“During the year, we invested N1tn in network expansion and modernisation, more than double the prior year’s capital expenditure. This investment translates to additional base stations, deeper fibre rollout, expanded capacity and improved network resilience across the country because sustaining critical digital infrastructure requires disciplined capital allocation and a deliberate long-term approach,” the executive said.

The telcos’ total subscriber base increased to 87.3 million, up 7.9 per cent, while active data subscribers rose to 53.2 million. Data traffic grew by 34 per cent during the year. These figures reflect sustained demand for digital services across the country and underscore the need for continued investment in network capacity and resilience.

“We are mindful that in a period of economic pressure, expectations from customers are heightened. When Nigerians purchase data or rely on our network for work, education, financial services or daily communication, they expect reliability, fairness and continuous improvement. That expectation is both legitimate and central to our responsibility, Toriola noted.

MTN’s service revenue rose 55.1 per cent to N5.2tn in 2025, while earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation more than doubled to N2.7tn. Earnings per share improved to N53.07 from a negative N19.05 a year earlier, reflecting the sharp turnaround in operational performance.

Chief Financial Officer Modupe Kadiri said the company’s financial recovery was built on deliberate balance sheet repair, disciplined capital allocation and reduced foreign exchange exposure.

“A year ago, MTN Nigeria was in negative equity. Today, we are declaring a N20 total dividend for the 2025 financial year,” Kadiri stated.

The board approved a final dividend of N15 per share, subject to shareholder approval at the annual general meeting, bringing the total dividend for the year to N20 per share, including an interim dividend of N5 already paid in the fourth quarter.

According to its report, MTN generated N1.2tn in free cash flow during the year and rebuilt shareholders’ equity to N548.7bn, with retained earnings standing at N400.4bn at year-end, signalling restored financial stability after the previous year’s market volatility.

Toriola said profitability would continue to underpin infrastructure expansion, noting that profit enables sustained reinvestment in network quality and broader coverage rather than serving as an end in itself.

“Profit, in our context, is not an end in itself. It is the mechanism that enables continued investment in network quality, broader coverage and enhanced customer experience. As Nigeria’s digital ecosystem continues to expand across fintech, small businesses, education and public services, resilient and future-ready telecommunications infrastructure remains foundational to national development,” he added.

The Manufacturers Association of Nigeria has found that maintenance lapses account for between 10 and 15 per cent of energy waste in factories, while most facilities lack sub-metering systems needed to track consumption.

The findings emerged from a Cleaner Production Assessment conducted in 42 industries across four geopolitical zones and presented at the National Stakeholders’ Sensitisation Workshop on ISO 50001 and 14001 standards in Lagos on Tuesday.

The assessment, carried out under the GEF-UNIDO Industrial Energy Efficiency and Resource Efficiency Cleaner Production Project, covered sectors including food and beverages, basic metals, wood and wood products, textiles and leather, and petrochemicals.

Presenting the technical findings, IEE and RECP National Expert Obafemi Adejumo said the study exposed a wide gap between current practices and global best standards. He noted that the study uncovered significant industrial energy efficiency gaps across the country.

“What I have noticed is that there is a big gap between where we should be and where we are at the moment. Not all parts of the industry are doing well with energy efficiency. Some industries are already doing well, but a lot of other industries have not really plugged into it”, Adejumo said.

The CPA identified compressed air systems as a major source of electricity waste, accounting for about 25 per cent of losses, largely due to leaks and improper use. In some plants, optimising the system enabled operators to shut down one compressor entirely.

Steam systems accounted for 30 per cent of losses, while lighting contributed 18 per cent. The assessment also found significant thermal losses from poor insulation and flue gases in boilers and furnaces, inefficient motor systems running at partial loads, and a lack of Variable Speed Drives.

The report highlighted that most facilities lack sub-metering, making it difficult to manage energy use effectively.

“Data gaps are a serious issue. Most facilities lack sub-metering, making it difficult to manage what isn’t measured,” the assessment noted.

The study also found that idle equipment in textile and leather factories and a weak maintenance culture contributed to avoidable losses of up to 15 per cent.

The assessment revealed that grid unreliability in Kano and Anambra amplified energy losses, while thermal inefficiencies were more pronounced in the basic metal and petrochemical sectors.

However, it recorded successes in the food and beverage sector, where a Lagos-based plant reduced compressed air leaks by 20 per cent after optimisation.

Overall, the CPA estimated that industries could achieve between 20 and 25 per cent energy reduction, translating to about 500 megawatt-hours of savings per plant annually, if integrated industrial energy-efficiency measures were implemented.

The association urged manufacturers to adopt ISO 50001 and ISO 14001 standards to institutionalise energy management and cleaner production.

National Project Coordinator, GEF-UNIDO IEE/RECP Project, Jacob Oladipo, said ISO 50001 focuses on energy efficiency, while ISO 14001 addresses resource efficiency and cleaner production.

“Today, we are looking at feedback from the exercise conducted under this project, mainly the exposure of the project components to ISO standards 50001 and 14001. The 50001 has to do with energy efficiency, while the 14001 has to do with resource efficiency and cleaner production,” Oladipo said.

He said the CPA exposed poor water management practices across industries, stating, “We discovered that industries extract their water from boreholes and attach no importance to the usage of water. They use fresh water and discard it without knowing the volume used per day. If you are producing and you don’t know the volume of water you are using, how will you know the volume of water that you are wasting?”

He added that recycling water reduces overall consumption and improves resource efficiency. “One of the cardinal principles of resource efficiency is that you produce with less waste. If you recycle your water, it reduces the amount of water you use at the end of the day because water is not going out into the drain,” he said.

Adejumo stressed that awareness and top management commitment remain critical to closing the efficiency gap.

“One thing that will be needful is that the top management in the industry needs to be equipped with the right knowledge of this concept. If the top management doesn’t buy into it, the ordinary facility manager will not be able to do it”, Adejumo said.

He explained that the campaign’s core message rests on cost savings and competitiveness. “If you can reduce energy consumption, then your cost of production will be reduced. When you save energy costs in your facility, you boost the sustainability of your organisation and make it competitive,” Adejumo said.

He warned that inefficiencies also increase carbon emissions, stating, “If you burn more fuel because of inefficiencies, then you have more emissions into the atmosphere. We must work on that on a national scale.”

Meanwhile, the Chief Executive Officer of Spectra Industries Ltd, Duro Kuteyi, said the initiative exposed hidden financial leakages in factories.

“The IEE and RECP initiative is an innovative system that shows industrialists where they are losing money, and now they can prevent it,” Kuteyi said.

He said factories could recover waste heat from generators and commercialise waste streams. “Even in the use of a generator, the heat coming from the generator can be converted to do other things in the factory. From the waste generated, we had already put energy into that waste, so it should not be trashed. The waste should be commercialised to compensate for part of the energy used”, Kuteyi said.

He urged industrial leaders to personally undergo ISO training. “It is better for the industrialist himself to understand this so that he can pass it down. Everybody stands to benefit if he wants to”, he said.

In his welcome address, the Director-General of MAN, Segun Ajayi-Kadir, represented by National Technical Coordinator Dr Oluwasegun Osidipe, described the project as a defining moment for the sector.

“The implementation of the GEF-UNIDO Industrial Energy Efficiency, Resource Efficiency and Cleaner Production Project marks a defining moment in our collective journey towards sustainability,” Ajayi-Kadir said.

He asserted that manufacturers must champion sustainable practices to enhance competitiveness and resilience, stating, “As we embrace the principles of energy efficiency, we will not only be reducing our carbon footprint but also saving on energy costs. In return, the efficiency, competitiveness and resilience of operations will be enhanced to meet the increasing demand of our global marketplace.”

He urged policymakers to create an enabling environment that supports energy management systems and cleaner production, adding that Nigeria can safeguard its environment and foster sustained economic growth by optimising resource use and investing in energy-efficient technologies.