Senegal seeks partnership with Nigeria to develop its petroleum sector

The Republic of Senegal is seeking Nigeria’s support for the development of its oil and gas as well as energy sector.

Aissitou Sophie Gladima, Senegal’s petroleum and energy minister, said this during a delegation visit to Nigeria on Monday.

Gladima said Senegal had longed to partner with Nigeria to gain from its wealth of experience in the oil and gas sector.

She said that Nigeria’s years of oil production activities was an excellent example for Senegal as it is beginning to grow its own industry.

The Senegalese minister asked Nigeria for support in the country’s (Senegal) four areas of security management in oil and gas, national oil Company (NOC) organisation, local content regulation and NOC strategies.

Timipre Sylva, minister of state for petroleum resources, who welcomed the delegation, said Africa needs to come together and work to support development in the region and reduce over-dependence on foreigners for growth.

“We as Africans must come together to work together in order to chat way forward; we cannot continue to depend on Europe and the outside world,” Sylva said.

“In fact, it has been proven that they cannot be responsible for our development, we have to take full responsibility of our development and that is why we are very happy that you are here today.”

He said in over 60 years of oil production, Nigeria has achieved great strides including increasing local content from 3 percent in the past 10 years to 43 percent.

According to him, Nigeria’s local content is expected to grow to 70 percent by 2027.

“When we started production activities in Nigeria, we were completely spectators, every position was occupied by expatriates, our communities were just onlookers to the activities but since then a lot has happened.

“It has been a lot of capacity development in Nigeria and today a significant percentage of Nigeria’s crude is being produced by Nigerian companies.”

Sylva added that this is the best time to incorporate some of Nigeria’s experience to help Senegal develop efficiently and contribute to economic growth as activities had just started in their oil and gas sector.

He also urged Senegal to join the African Petroleum Producers Organisation (APPO).