Buhari revokes approval for Seplat to procure ExxonMobil assets – Nexus News
President Muhammadu Buhari has revoked his approval of Seplat Energy’s procurement of ExxonMobil’s shares.
Special Adviser to the President on Media & Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, had, two days ago, stated that President Buhari approved the purchase of ExxonMobil shares by Seplat.
Announcing the latest development, however, Special Assistant to the President on Media & Publicity, Mallam Garba Shehu, informed an online publication that the President’s revocation of his earlier approval was in line with the position of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
According to him, the controversies over ExxonMobil assets was because “the various agencies involved in the decision had not coordinated well among themselves”.
He added: “Having looked at all of the facts with all of the ramifications, the President decided the position of the regulator is to be supported.”
NUPRC had said status quo remained.
The statement from the Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, stated that the Commission, in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is the sole regulator in dealing with such issues in the Nigerian upstream sector.
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NUPRC said: “As it were, the issue at stake is purely a regulatory matter and the Commission had earlier communicated the decline of Ministerial assent to ExxonMobil in this regard. As such the Commission further affirms that the status quo remains.
“The Commission is committed to ensuring predictable and conducive regulatory environment at all times in the Nigerian upstream sector.”
Seplat Energy Plc had last February revealed an agreement to procure the entire share capital of Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited from ExxonMobil Corporation, Delaware for $1.28billion.
The transaction includes the acquisition of ExxonMobil Nigeria’s entire offshore shallow water, which is an established, high-quality operation with a highly skilled local operating team and a track record of safe operations.
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, however, has a pre-emptive right over the shares and had last month won a court decision temporarily banning Exxon Mobil Corporation from selling assets in Nigeria to Seplat Energy Plc.
A judge in Abuja had granted NNPC an “order of interim injunction” on July 6, 2022, prohibiting ExxonMobil “from completing any divestment” in a unit that also operates four licenses in Nigeria.
