The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says the federal government has approved 37 new crude oil evacuation routes as part of efforts to tackle oil theft and boost production.
Speaking at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG)
Energy Week in Abuja, Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive officer of the
commission, said protecting oil assets remains a top priority.
He said the 37 newly approved evacuation routes, combined
with close coordination with security agencies, are helping reduce theft and
improve transparency in the sector.
“Meanwhile, our drive on domestic crude supply obligation is
guaranteeing feedstock for local refineries, strengthening domestic supply
chains and economic resilience,” Komolafe said.
“On the social front, our HostComply platform has brought
transparency, real and measurable benefits to oil-producing communities,
fostering peace and social license to operate.
“At the same time, our full-scale digitisation efforts are
transforming regulatory oversight, delivering speed, efficiency and clarity to
investors.”
Komolafe added that under the leadership of President Bola
Tinubu, Nigeria has been undergoing a historic transformation of its energy
sector, attracting over $16 billion in investment commitments in just two
years.
He said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 laid the
groundwork for the reforms, while the 2024 Executive Orders, with 40 on fiscal
incentives, 41 on local content, and 42 on cost efficiency and contract
timelines, have accelerated the inflow of investments.
The NUPRC CEO said bold reforms and strong policy direction
have repositioned the oil and gas sector for greater energy security,
sustainability, and economic resilience.
He also noted that meeting global oil and gas demand, which
currently supplies over 50 percent of global energy needs and is expected to
continue until 2050, would require annual upstream investments of $640 billion
through 2030, totalling over $4 trillion.
“Failure to meet this demand will threaten global stability.
Let it be said: the global demand remains strong. Nigeria and Africa cannot
afford to ignore this,” he said.
NIGERIA INCREASING CRUDE OIL PRODUCTION BY REVIVING DORMANT
FIELDS
Komolafe said the commission is scaling up production
through the One Million Barrels Initiative by reviving dormant fields,
fast-tracking regulatory approvals, and improving upstream efficiency.
The CEO said the initiative, launched in 2024, aims to
increase output from 1.46 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2.5 million bpd by
2026.
“With 1.7 million bpd already achieved, the strategy is
yielding results,” he said.
Komolafe added that the commission is working to integrate
climate responsibility into its operations, helping Nigeria achieve its
net-zero emissions target by 2060, while oil and gas remain central to the
economy.
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