23/04/2026
Five years after the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (โPIAโ), Nigeriaโs Gas Sector stands at a pivotal stage, with the focus shifting from the establishment of a defined legal and institutional framework to the delivery of commercially viable and investable outcomes. Against this backdrop, the maiden edition of the Nigerian Gas Association Legal Forum 2026 (the โForumโ/ โEventโ), was convened.
The Event, held on 17 April 2026, with the theme, โStrengthening Nigeriaโs Gas Legal Framework for a Low-Carbon, Commercially Viable Future,โ brought together regulators, legal practitioners, policymakers, and key industry stakeholders to examine issues relating to regulatory certainty and investment attractiveness, and to develop practical recommendations for the transition of Nigeriaโs Gas Sector into a bankable and sustainable energy market.
As a Gold Sponsor of the Event, Tope Adebayo LP was represented by members of its distinguished Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group, including Sandra Osinachi-Nwandem, Olawunmi Abiola, Eyitayo Ajisafe, Oheji Emmanuel Iji, and Taiwo Soyinka.
A recurring theme across the sessions was the imperative of aligning regulatory design with commercial realities, particularly in areas such as integrated operations, gas infrastructure development, and gas market liberalisation. The panel sessions covered the following topics:
ยท PIA 5 Years After: Lessons, Gaps and Legal Imperatives for Nigeriaโs Gas Expansion
ยท Fiscal Incentives for Gas: Legal Interpretation, Investment Risk and Emerging Opportunities
ยท Licensing, Permits and Compliance: How to De-bottleneck the Nigerian Gas Value Chain
ยท Drafting Bankable Gas Agreements in 2026: Pricing, Take-or-Pay and Credit Risk
ยท Arbitration and Dispute Trends in the Gas Sector: Enforcement Challenges and Lessons from Recent Cases
ยท Legal Pathways for Carbon Compliance: Emissions, ESG Obligations and Climate Risks in Gas Projects.
On the final panel session, โLegal Pathways for Carbon Compliance: Emissions, ESG Obligations and Climate Risks in Gas Projects,โ Olawunmi Abiola, Senior Associate at Tope Adebayo LP, represented Aderemi Ogunbanjo, Partner and Head of the Energy and Natural Resources Practice Group at Tope Adebayo LP. She highlighted the disconnect between existing ESG obligations within the Gas Sector and their practical implementation, noting in particular the limited availability of robust independent verification mechanisms by regulators.
Panelists emphasised the need for stronger enforcement frameworks, enhanced monitoring capacity, and improved data transparency to ensure credible carbon compliance within Nigeriaโs gas industry.
Overall, discussions across the Forum converged on a central idea: bridging the gap between policy and practice will require streamlined licensing processes, improved regulatory coordination, market-driven pricing mechanisms, and more effective enforcement of existing regulations.
