The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has disclosed significant approvals in the oil sector, granting permission for 595 well re-entries and 145 new drilling operations year-to-date in 2026. These measures aim to boost oil production and attract further investments, aligning with Nigeria’s energy security goals.
The recent announcements were made by Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission’s Chief Executive, during a management session at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) held in Lagos. The conference focused on ‘Energy Security in an Era of Global Disruption: Positioning Nigeria for Resilience, Competitiveness, and Prosperity’.
Eyesan highlighted that 39 Field Development Plans (FDPs) have also been approved within the last ten months, reflecting enhancements in regulatory processes that streamline approval times and reduce costs for operators. According to her explanation, these approvals play a crucial role in meeting production targets and guaranteeing energy availability in Nigeria.
The rise in the total rig count to 100, with 46 currently active, indicates a robust operational landscape in the upstream petroleum sector. In October, Nigeria achieved a daily average crude oil and condensate production of 1,687,710 barrels, surpassing the 1.5 million barrels per day quota set by OPEC for the sixth consecutive month.
Despite a month-on-month decline of 1.7 percent in production, the NUPRC reported that single-day production peaked at 1.79 million barrels in October, demonstrating operational stability and increased production efficiency among industry stakeholders.
A breakdown of the production data indicated that Forcados Terminal led with an average of 318.49 thousand barrels per day, followed by Bonny at 311.02 thousand barrels. Other terminals, including Qua Iboe and Escravos, contributed 173.97 thousand and 134.67 thousand barrels per day, respectively.
The NUPRC attributed the stable production levels to improved operational efficiency and investment in asset integrity, assuring that continued progress in these areas is vital for the overall health of Nigeria’s oil sector.
