How to apply for FG’s 2026 research grant

The Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF), a division of the Nigerian Federal Government, has opened applications for its 2026 Annual Oil and Gas Research Grant Competition. This annual program aims to bolster local research capabilities and foster innovative solutions to challenges plaguing Nigeria's oil and gas sector. By submitting a proposal, Nigerian researchers can access research grants, released in installments contingent upon project milestone attainment.

To be eligible, applicants must be Nigerian citizens residing in Nigeria, currently employed in an academic institution, company, research organization, or non-governmental organization. The principal researcher of the project must be a senior academic, with the option of collaborating with Nigerians living abroad. Working alongside local industry professionals and organizations is highly encouraged, although personal or institutional identifiers should be excluded from the proposal.

The 2026 competition encompasses eight key research themes: energy security, sustainable production, gas commercialization, integrated technologies, environmental sustainability, digital oilfield, facilities engineering, and energy economics and policy. Each theme encompasses various sub-areas, such as artificial intelligence-driven seismic imaging, smart wells, gas-to-power systems, bioremediation, industrial Internet of Things, and carbon capture, among others.

To draft a successful proposal, applicants must adhere to PTDF's prescribed structure, which includes a cover page, executive summary, background and problem definition, literature review, research objectives, methodology, research plan and timeline, commercialisation and adoption plan, research budget and justification, capacity-building components, references, tables and figures, and appendices.

The proposal must be no more than 5,000 words, formatted in Times New Roman, 12-point font, 1.5-line spacing, with 2.54cm margins on all sides. Citations and references must follow the APA 7th edition style.

Interested and eligible researchers can apply by visiting the official PTDF Oil and Gas Research Grant portal, creating an account, selecting a relevant research theme, preparing a proposal following the specified structure, reviewing the proposal for formatting and word limit compliance, and finally, submitting the proposal electronically through the portal. Applicants should regularly monitor the portal and their communication channels for updates.