The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has projected that the country is firmly on track to achieve 2.5 million barrels per day crude oil production by 2026.
The Commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed this at the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) 2025, holding in Abuja. He explained that the commission is implementing a series of strategic measures aimed at boosting output, driving sustainability, and aligning with global energy transition standards.
According to him, the NUPRC’s Upstream Decarbonisation Framework and gas-centric transition strategy are designed to end routine gas flaring by 2030, cut methane emissions by 60 percent by 2031, and harness Nigeria’s vast gas resources for economic growth.
Komolafe noted that Nigeria is already witnessing gains from these efforts. Production, which stood at 1.46 million barrels per day in October 2024, has risen to 1.8 million barrels daily. He attributed the growth to initiatives such as reactivating dormant fields, expediting approvals, and deploying improved recovery technologies.
“With this momentum, we are firmly on track to reach our 2.5 million barrels per day target by 2026,” Komolafe said.
He added that Nigeria is adopting collaborative models similar to global success stories, such as the North Sea, where cluster strategies revitalised mature basins and sustained competitiveness for decades. He maintained that Nigeria’s deepwater remains a highly competitive and investor-friendly frontier capable of delivering substantial volumes in the coming years.
Speaking on the role of gas, Komolafe highlighted initiatives including the “Decade of Gas,” the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), and the Presidential CNG Initiative, which he said are creating thousands of green jobs and positioning Nigeria as Africa’s gas powerhouse.
He emphasised that beyond policies and capital, human resources remain the foundation of progress in the energy sector. With nearly 70 percent of Nigeria’s population under the age of 30, Komolafe described the country’s youthful demography as a key advantage in building a globally competitive energy workforce.
“In many oil-producing regions, ageing workforces are forcing companies to import talent to sustain operations. Nigeria’s opportunity is different: with a young and dynamic population, we have the chance to train, retain, and even export world-class energy professionals,” he said.
The NUPRC chief further urged increased investment in STEM education, technical training, and digital upskilling to enable Nigerian youths tap into the 20 million new energy jobs projected globally by 2030, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA).
Komolafe challenged stakeholders at the summit to ensure that deliberations extend beyond oil and gas to touch on broader issues of economic sovereignty, national livelihoods, and Nigeria’s strategic role in the unfolding global energy transition.
He reiterated NUPRC’s commitment to working with PENGASSAN, operators, service providers, and investors to ensure that Nigeria not only participates in the transition era but actively shapes it to its advantage.
“Resilience is not built by chance, but by choice. Today, we must choose to invest in our people, drive innovation, safeguard the environment, and forge partnerships that will endure beyond market cycles and political terms,” Komolafe said.
Commending PENGASSAN for convening the summit and for its efforts toward workers’ welfare and industry competitiveness, he wished participants fruitful deliberations capable of translating into tangible progress for the country.
