Authors
- Dr. Abdulwasi Musah
Abstract
This paper examines the Nigerian state’s participation in the oil and gas industry through the lens of petroleum technology development. While Nigeria’s petroleum sector has traditionally been analysed in terms of petro-politics, resource control, revenue dependence and institutional governance, this study argues that the developmental value of state participation should also be measured by its contribution to indigenous technical capability, technology transfer, local content, operational efficiency, gas utilisation, environmental remediation and workforce competence. Using a qualitative, doctrinal and policy-based analysis of legal frameworks, fiscal arrangements, institutional roles and secondary industry sources, the paper evaluates the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, the commercialisation of NNPC Limited, the functions of NUPRC and NMDPRA, local-content implementation, host-community obligations and recent revenue-remittance reforms. It finds that although post-PIA reforms have improved the legal and institutional architecture of the sector, persistent governance weaknesses, fiscal leakages, fragmented mandates and weak enforcement continue to limit Nigeria’s ability to convert petroleum activity into sustainable technological learning and domestic industrial capability. The paper concludes that state participation should move beyond ownership, regulation and revenue capture towards a technology-led development model that deliberately links petroleum operations to skills formation, research collaboration, digital monitoring, transparent governance, environmental responsibility and long-term national competitiveness.