Fresh controversy has surrounded the proposed sale of a 40 per cent stake in the Amukpe–Escravos Pipeline, as industry observers and policy analysts call on the Federal Government to halt the process pending a fresh valuation review.
The pipeline, which connects Amukpe in Delta State to the Escravos export terminal in Warri, is regarded as a key crude evacuation route in Nigeria’s western Niger Delta region. Operational since 2022, the facility reportedly transports about 160,000 barrels of crude oil daily.
The asset is jointly owned by Pan Ocean Oil Corporation and NNPC Exploration & Production Limited, with Pan Ocean controlling the stake currently under consideration for sale.
Concerns intensified after reports indicated that earlier valuation figures tied to a failed 2024 transaction may still be influencing ongoing discussions around the proposed divestment. Independent assessments conducted in 2025 reportedly placed the value of the 40 per cent stake between $544 million and $641 million, far above the earlier $243 million figure linked to the collapsed deal.
Public affairs analyst Prof. Okey Ikechukwu warned that disposing of the asset at outdated valuation levels could damage confidence in Nigeria’s regulatory and commercial systems.
According to him, “If you must sell a performing national asset, it must be sold at the right value.”
He also called for an immediate suspension of all processes related to the sale until a transparent and updated valuation exercise is completed.
Energy experts have similarly argued that the pipeline remains one of the country’s more reliable oil transport systems and should be treated as a strategic infrastructure asset. Some stakeholders fear that proceeding without a revised valuation framework could raise concerns among investors and lenders involved in the sector.
The development adds to ongoing debates about transparency, asset management, and investor protection within Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
