Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is set for a major production surge, as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has approved 28 new Field Development Plans, FDPs, in 2025, expected to deliver an additional 600,000 barrels of oil per day and over 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily.
The Commission Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed this at the ongoing 2025 World Energies Summit convened by Frontier Energy Network in London, noting that the approvals mark a defining moment for Nigeria’s upstream sector.
“In 2025 alone, 28 new Field Development Plans have already been approved, unlocking an additional 1.4 billion barrels of oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas,” Komolafe said.
“These projects are expected to add nearly 600,000 barrels of oil per day and more than 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, supported by $18.2 billion in committed capital expenditure, CAPEX.”
According to the NUPRC boss, the milestone is a clear demonstration that Nigeria’s upstream industry is not only on a growth trajectory but also regaining investor confidence amid global pressures for energy transition.
“Together, these outcomes demonstrate that Nigeria’s upstream sector is not only on a growth trajectory but is also attracting the scale of investment needed to sustain its role as a premier global energy hub,” he stated.
Komolafe highlighted that the reforms under President Bola Tinubu’s administration, coupled with the Commission’s strategic regulatory actions, have been pivotal in transforming challenges into opportunities for sustainable investment growth.
He further revealed that Nigeria’s ongoing Licensing Rounds, including the 2022 Petroleum Prospecting Licences, Mini-Bid Round for Deep Offshore Blocks, and the 2024 Licensing Round, have attracted strong global participation and earned transparency commendations from the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, NEITI.
“Beyond the successes of our data acquisition campaigns and licensing rounds, every key metric on our performance dashboard reflects widening access and exceptional investor participation,” Komolafe said.
“Rig activity, for instance, has surged from just eight in 2021 to 70 today, out of which 41 are drilling on site.”
He also noted that national production has risen significantly, climbing from 1.46 million barrels per day in October 2024 to around 1.8 million barrels per day in 2025, an indicator of renewed operational efficiency.
“Major Final Investment Decisions, such as the $5 billion Bonga North and $500 million Ubeta Gas Project, underscore renewed long-term investor confidence, with several more expected soon,” Komolafe added.
On energy transition, the NUPRC chief stressed that for Africa, and particularly Nigeria, it remains a matter of energy security rather than just environmental commitment.
He reaffirmed that Nigeria’s Decade of Gas initiative forms the backbone of its transition strategy, balancing economic growth with low-carbon development.
