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Just in: Finally, after years of litigations, Cross River, again becomes oil producing state
Finally, Cross River State has recorded a significant breakthrough in its long-running quest for recognition as an oil-producing state, following the emergence of its onshore petroleum assets within the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) 2025 Licensing .
This development has opened a new chapter in oil and gas exploration in the state, with three petroleum blocks in the Calabar Flank—PPL 2A61, PPL 2A62 and PPL 2A45—included in the licensing process. The NUPRC has described the Calabar Flank as a historically underexplored geological province with significant potential for future petroleum discoveries.
The development is particularly significant for the Ikang, Calabar and Odukpani–Mbiabo petroleum corridors, where previous exploration activities produced wells, including Ikang-1 and the Calabar wells, as well as long-documented capped and abandoned wells around Mbiabo Ikot Offiong. With the latest licensing cycle, these historical petroleum frontiers could now be subjected to modern seismic interpretation, subsurface modelling, exploratory drilling and contemporary oil and gas technologies.
At the NUPRC commercial bid conference held on July 21, 2026, 31 companies emerged winners of 37 oil and gas blocks. Saratoga emerged as the successful bidder for PPL 2A45, Clinton Oil Field for PPL 2A62, while Nikstallis won PPL 2A61.
Final awards have been made, while payment of the applicable signature bonuses is ongoing and said to be nearing completion in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The successful companies are also processing their entry into Cross River State.
The development represents more than another licensing exercise for Cross River. It signals a shift in the state’s petroleum narrative from historical evidence and political agitation towards regulated investment, exploration and potential commercial production.
The participation of new investors in the Calabar Flank indicates that the area is increasingly being recognised within Nigeria’s upstream petroleum architecture as a legitimate frontier for oil and gas exploration.Geographic Reference The development is also being viewed as a significant milestone for Governor Bassey Edet Otu, whose administration has consistently pushed for recognition of Cross River’s oil-producing status and greater participation in Nigeria’s petroleum economy.
Governor Otu’s administration has continued to place the state’s petroleum claims within the national policy and development conversation, helping sustain pressure for recognition based on geological, technical and documentary evidence.
The latest development shifts the central question from whether Cross River possesses petroleum potential to how the state can responsibly develop those resources and convert them into revenue, investment, employment and sustainable development.
From Oil Status to an Oil Economy
The next challenge for Cross River will go beyond securing recognition as an oil-producing state.
The state will need to develop the institutional and economic structures required to capture value across the petroleum chain, including exploration, drilling, production, gas development, infrastructure, local content, technical skills, host-community development, environmental protection and petroleum-linked industrial investment. The Ikang–Calabar–Odukpani–Mbiabo corridor could become an important component of this emerging energy economy.
From Petitions to Regulatory Validation Cross River’s campaign for oil-producing-state recognition predates the current licensing round. The state government has made a sustained series of petitions and representations to the President of Nigeria, backed by documentary, geological and technical evidence relating to onshore and offshore oil wells and derivation interests.
The state’s position has consistently been that its petroleum resources and verified well locations deserve appropriate recognition within Nigeria’s derivation and upstream regulatory framework.Geographic Reference The emergence of Cross River’s onshore petroleum potential within the NUPRC licensing architecture therefore represents a major milestone in that long-running campaign. It also strengthens the state’s position as it pursues the next stage of its petroleum claim—offshore recognition.
Offshore Frontier Remains Attention is now expected to shift towards the offshore component of Cross River’s petroleum claim. According to the state’s technical position, more than 119 offshore well coordinates have been verified and are awaiting presidential consideration and approval. If approved and formally incorporated into the relevant national petroleum and derivation framework, the offshore recognition could further strengthen Cross River’s position in Nigeria’s petroleum economy and potentially improve its revenue prospects. The strategic implication is significant: while onshore validation provides an important foundation, offshore accreditation could complete a broader petroleum recognition being pursued by the state.
Cross River will therefore need to consolidate the current momentum through a coordinated petroleum investment and development strategy that links exploration with infrastructure, community development, local enterprise, technical manpower and long-term economic planning. The wells of yesterday may have been capped, but Cross River’s petroleum future is being reopened. The ultimate objective, however, should go beyond crude oil and gas production. The state must ensure that its petroleum resources translate into broad-based economic prosperity, sustainable development and improved opportunities for its people.
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Wike promises to deliver ongoing road projects in December as Christmas gift to residents(Photos)
Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, has assured residents of Abuja that ongoing road projects will be completed and delivered in December as special Christmas gifts from President Bola Tinubu.
Wike gave the assurance in Abuja on Tuesday, after he inspected the ongoing construction of Arterial Road NI, from Wuye to Ring Road II, Tungan Madaki to Zuba road and Zaudna-Kaba-Kagini to Kubwa Expressway.
Speaking to journalists after assessing the pace and quality of work, the minister expressed satisfaction with the progress recorded so far and commended the contractors for their dedication to meeting the completion timelines.
“I’m very impressed with the jobs so far, and I’m also impressed with the commitment of the contractors.
“We have promised the residents that this will be their Christmas gift by Mr President as part of their Christmas gift so that they’ll go back home and enjoy their Christmas celebration.
“You can imagine the happiness of those who stay here. You know that with these roads the economy of the affected communities will change,” he said.
Highlighting the impact of the road infrastructure on the beneficiary communities, Wike noted that completing the roads would alleviate transport difficulties and revitalise local economic activities ahead of the festive season.
The minister particularly emphasised the transformation taking place in suburban and rural areas, describing community satisfaction as the primary goal of public service.
“When you see a rural area like this, it makes us very happy when the people are happy and of course, that’s the essence of good governance,” Wike added.
Addressing initial concerns regarding weather-induced delays, Wike acknowledged that seasonal rainfall had temporarily slowed earthworks.
He, however, expressed confidence that the contractors would accelerate operations as the rainy season winds down.
“You know, I was having doubts, but the contractors are fully committed. If not for the rains, I know they would have gone far.
“I believe that from the first week of October, the rains will not be much again, and you will see how they will continue with earthworks,” he said.
The minister assured residents that the administration remains steadfast in delivering on its commitments.
Addressing the excited residents, Wike urged them to vote Tinubu for president and Philip Aduda to represent FCT in the Senate.
He told residents of Tungan Shanu village, on the Tungan Madaki to Zuba road corridor not to forget Tinubu and Aduda during the 2027 elections.
“We will push the contractor to deliver the road by December so that you’ll be happy. That is what the President is doing for you.
“The president said this road will be a Christmas gift for all of you. So, when the election comes too, don’t forget to vote for Tinubu and Aduda,” he said.
Speaking to the cheering residents of Kaba, on the Kagini to Kubwa Expressway road corridor, the minister said: “I’m happy that you people are happy that this road will be completed in December.
“I came here with the man that will represent you well in the Senate and that is Sen. Philip Aduda. He’s the one that will connect you directly with Tinubu.
“So, I hope all of you will vote for Tinubu and Aduda.”
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2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Abubakar Sokoto, has described the emerging Rainbow Coalition as another chapter in Nigeria’s long history of political alliances and realignments.
Sokoto, in a statement issued in Sokoto on Tuesday, said political coalitions had remained a recurring feature of Nigeria’s electoral history, with parties and political groups often coming together to pursue shared political objectives.
According to him, while the names, personalities, circumstances and goals behind such alliances may change, political realignment remains an established part of the country’s democratic process.
He cited the 1999 AD-APP joint presidential ticket of Olu Falae and Umaru Shinkafi as one of the notable examples of political cooperation in Nigeria.
He also recalled the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties ahead of the 2015 general elections, as well as the merger involving the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which eventually led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The greatest lesson from these experiences is that political coalitions are about people as much as they are about parties,” he said.
On the latest political realignment, Sokoto noted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had described the Rainbow Coalition as a multi-party platform mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
He added that Wike had also maintained that the coalition was not an APC structure.
Sokoto said concerns reportedly expressed by some APC governors over the emerging coalition should be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria’s history of political alliances and realignments.
He urged APC governors and other party leaders to adopt what he described as a pragmatic approach to the developing political configuration ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP candidate also called on Nigerians to support efforts aimed at ensuring that the 2027 general elections are free, fair and credible.
News
2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) governorship candidate in Sokoto State, Abubakar Sokoto, has described the emerging Rainbow Coalition as another chapter in Nigeria’s long history of political alliances and realignments.
Sokoto, in a statement issued in Sokoto on Tuesday, said political coalitions had remained a recurring feature of Nigeria’s electoral history, with parties and political groups often coming together to pursue shared political objectives.
According to him, while the names, personalities, circumstances and goals behind such alliances may change, political realignment remains an established part of the country’s democratic process.
He cited the 1999 AD-APP joint presidential ticket of Olu Falae and Umaru Shinkafi as one of the notable examples of political cooperation in Nigeria.
He also recalled the Coalition of Progressive Political Parties ahead of the 2015 general elections, as well as the merger involving the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), which eventually led to the formation of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
“The greatest lesson from these experiences is that political coalitions are about people as much as they are about parties,” he said.
On the latest political realignment, Sokoto noted that the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Nyesom Wike, had described the Rainbow Coalition as a multi-party platform mobilising support for President Bola Tinubu’s 2027 re-election bid.
He added that Wike had also maintained that the coalition was not an APC structure.
Sokoto said concerns reportedly expressed by some APC governors over the emerging coalition should be viewed within the broader context of Nigeria’s history of political alliances and realignments.
He urged APC governors and other party leaders to adopt what he described as a pragmatic approach to the developing political configuration ahead of the 2027 elections.
The PDP candidate also called on Nigerians to support efforts aimed at ensuring that the 2027 general elections are free, fair and credible.
Wike promises to deliver ongoing road projects in December as Christmas gift to residents(Photos)
2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
2027: Rainbow Coalition Signals Fresh Political Realignment in Nigeria — Sokoto PDP Guber Candidate
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