Shell Nigeria is one of the largest energy companies in the country and a cornerstone of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry. Operating for more than six decades, Shell has played a defining role in the development of Nigeria’s petroleum sector, contributing significantly to government revenues, infrastructure growth, and local employment. Through its main operating company, Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria (SPDC), the company has been instrumental in shaping the country’s upstream oil and gas operations.
Shell’s journey in Nigeria began in the 1930s with exploratory activities, culminating in the discovery of Nigeria’s first commercial oil field in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, in 1956. This discovery marked the birth of Nigeria’s modern petroleum industry and transformed the country into a major oil producer.
Over the decades, Shell has maintained its position as one of Nigeria’s largest joint-venture operators, partnering with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and other international oil firms to manage onshore and offshore assets.
Beyond exploration and production, Shell Nigeria has been a major contributor to the nation’s economy, providing thousands of direct and indirect jobs, investing in local supplier development, while also playing a crucial role in Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings through crude oil exports.
In recent years, Shell Nigeria has embarked on a strategic shift toward cleaner energy solutions, aligning with global sustainability trends by divesting some of its onshore assets, focusing more on deep-water exploration and natural gas production, including the Nigeria LNG project.
In 2025, Shell completed the sales of The Shell Petroleum Development Company of Nigeria Limited, a move that’s meant to allow the company focus on future disciplined investment in its Deepwater and integrated Gas positions.
