LAGOS, May 30 Reuters ExxonMobil is not renewing a 33yearold lease on its expansive offices in Lagos39;s upscale Lekki district which expires on Friday, three sources inside the company told Reuters, as it looks to scale down operations in Nigeria.

Exxon, Shell, TotalEnergies and Eni have all sought to leave Nigeria39;s oilrich Niger delta in recent years, citing security concerns, but such moves have been stalled by regulatory hurdles.

ExxonMobil39;s plan to sell its land and shallowwater assets to local oil firm Seplat Energy, agreed in 2022, is nearing close as the local oil sector regulator told Reuters that an agreement signed on Wednesday between Nigerian state oil firm NNPC and Exxon39;s local unit is a precursor to regulatory approval.

Exxon said it was maintaining a strong presence in Nigeria. Our move to a new modern, purposebuilt office reflects our commitment to Nigeria, said Oge Udeagha, a spokesperson for ExxonMobil39;s Nigerian unit. We remain dedicated to our workforce and our staffing remains unchanged.

Yet Exxon39;s relocation to smaller offices and an absence of any new investments highlight how serious it is about scaling down its Nigerian operations, even as the country39;s government turns on the charm for multinational oil firms.

Exxon is relocating staff from the 12floor Mobil House, reportedly leased at the cost of 10 million annually, to a sixfloor office building 22 kilometers away in the upmarket Ikoyi area, built to accommodate half the…