Oil and Gas-Related Disputes Resolution: Trajectory under the Nigerian Petroleum Industry Act 2021
Enobong Mbang Akpambang, Ph.D. (Corresponding Author); Omolade Adeyemi Oniyinde, Ph.D.

Abstract
Since the discovery of crude oil in Nigeria as far back as in 1956, the Nigerian petroleum industry has proved to be the mainstay of the economy and significant source of revenue generation for the country. Part of the aims for enacting the extant Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 was the necessity to promote a business environment conducive for petroleum operations as well as create an undisturbed and harmonious relationship between licensees or lessees and the host communities. In order to achieve such goals, it becomes imperative for effective dispute resolution mechanisms to be put in place to address possible oil and gas-allied disputes. Undeniably, the various petroleum operations going on in the oil and gas industry along with the need to enter into myriad contractual agreements make occurrences of disputes in the sector unavoidable. The central aim of this article therefore, was to evaluate issues relating to settlement of oil and gas-related disputes under the extant PIA 2021. The article adopted a doctrinal method by appraising some available literature in the area under investigation in addition to examining related statutes put in place to regulate the operation of the oil and gas industry in Nigeria. The article discovered that the PIA has identified litigation and alternative dispute resolution procedures like mediation, conciliation, arbitration and expert determination as viable methods to settle oil and gas-associated disputes. The article ended with recommendations towards efficient and more rewarding petroleum-connected dispute resolution mechanism in the Nigerian oil and gas sector.

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