By Adesina Wahab

In a great achievement for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Oando Trading, a subsidiary of Oando Group, made history in April 2025 by becoming the first company to purchase and lift Nigeria’s newest crude blend, Obodo.

The Obodo crude, a medium sweet grade, is extracted from the onshore OML 150 block operated by Continental Oil & Gas Limited, owned by Dr. Mike Adenuga, Jr., GCON.

The project operates under a production sharing contract with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), helmed by its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.

The crude was stored and loaded through the FPSO Tamaratokani—a floating production, storage, and offloading vessel owned and managed by Century Group under the leadership of Ken Etete.

Strategically positioned on the coast of the Niger Delta, the FPSO Tamaratokani enables efficient access to international markets.

Oando Trading’s export tanker, Atlantic Spirit, marked the first international lift of the Obodo crude.

Century Group ensured a seamless and precise offtake operation from the FPSO, solidifying the value of indigenous capacity in Nigeria’s energy ecosystem.

“This isn’t just a trade; it’s a message. The message that Nigeria’s energy industry is ready, capable, and rising. One historic barrel at a time,” said Wale Tinubu, CEO of Oando Group.

The success of the Obodo crude lift is also seen as a milestone in President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda, which seeks to boost daily oil production by one million barrels.

The import of this is that key players like Oando Trading, NNPCL, Continental Oil & Gas, and Century Group, are now seen as pillars driving the country toward this ambitious goal.

This development not only expands Nigeria’s oil portfolio but signals a strong shift toward indigenous ownership and leadership in the global energy market.