Chevron Corp. has notified the Nigerian government it has selected a preferred bidder—a group led by Lagos-based Seplat Petroleum Development Co.–as the buyer of onshore oil assets the U.S. major has been seeking to sell for eight months, according to people familiar with the matter. Chevron is planning to sell the assets for $800 million to a group led by Seplat, according to these people. Seplat is part owned by French independent oil company Maurel & Prom . The onshore blocks, in the eastern part of the Niger Delta, are still at an exploration stage and aren’t yet producing oil. The government has the last word on whether the sale will go forward. A spokeswoman for Chevron declined to comment. “I can confirm we [made] a bid,” said Seplat Chief Executive Austin Avuru. He declined to say if he has been notified that Seplat was the favored bidder […]