Nigeria ranks as Africa’s leading destination for upstream oil and gas investment in 2024, research from market intelligence firm Wood Mackenzie shows.

Nigeria accounted for three out of four Final Investment Decisions (FIDs) announced by global oil and gas majors, totalling $13.5 billion.

The FIDs announced within the Nigerian market included Shell’s $122 million investment in the Iseni Gas Project, TotalEnergies’ $566 million commitment to the Ubeta Gas Project and Shell’s approval of the Bonga North Tranche 1 project. The investments reflect Nigeria’s ongoing efforts to unlock its hydrocarbon potential through investor-friendly policies and strategic global partnerships.

The African Energy Chamber (AEC), as the voice of the African energy sector, congratulated Nigeria for the milestone while commending the Nigerian government for its proactive legislations aimed at attracting foreign investments, streamlining project implementation and reducing bottlenecks.

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In 2024, Nigeria introduced several initiatives to create a conducive environment for oil and gas investors, including new tax incentives aimed at attracting up to $10 billion in natural gas investments – offering tax relief for gas investors, reducing corporate income tax and extending capital allowance benefits – for deepwater gas projects.

Other policies include the Presidential Directive on Local Content Compliance Requirements, 2024 to address reduction in oil and gas investments caused by high operating costs compared to global markets. The Presidential Directive on Reduction of Petroleum Sector Contracting Costs and Timelines, 2024 reduces time spent to award contracts for oil and gas projects.

In addition to the directives, Nigeria also launched its 2024 oil and gas licensing round, offering 19 blocks for exploration, demonstrating its commitment to continued collaboration with local, regional and international partners.

With this momentum, further FIDs are anticipated, including TotalEnergies’ expected $750 million commitment to the Ima Shallow Gas Project in 2025.