The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it has recognized greater than 788,000 barrels per day (bpd) of shut-in oil production throughout 63 operators that it’s concentrating on for restoration as half of efforts to extend Nigeria’s crude oil output.
The Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this on the nationwide convention of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) in Lagos, in response to a put up shared by the fee on X on Saturday.
Shut-in production refers to oil wells that aren’t at the moment producing, regardless of having the potential to take action, because of operational, technical, business or different constraints.
Eyesan, who was represented by Patricia Temisan-Olatunde, Assistant Director, Corporate Services and Administration, stated the fee was accelerating approval processes alongside its licensing rounds to assist near-term production development.
She stated 77 wells had been efficiently re-entered between January and September 2026, whereas 128 wells had been authorized for drilling throughout the interval.
NUPRC targets restoration of shut-in production
The fee stated its fast priorities embrace restoring the recognized shut-in volumes, advancing main offshore tasks to ultimate funding choice (FID) and bettering home fuel provide.
- “Our key priority is simple: restoring the more than 788,000 barrels per day of shut-in production identified across 63 operators; taking offshore projects valued at an estimated $30 billion to $50 billion to final investment decision; and raising domestic gas delivery from about two-thirds of the domestic obligation to full delivery,” the fee acknowledged.
The focused offshore tasks symbolize a possible funding pipeline of between $30 billion and $50 billion, whereas the push to enhance fuel supply is aimed toward guaranteeing that home provide meets the nation’s full obligation.
The NUPRC’s efforts are being pursued alongside government orders issued by President Bola Tinubu to encourage funding in deepwater petroleum tasks, as Nigeria works in direction of its 2030 oil and fuel ambitions.
Nigeria steps up oil licensing rounds
The newest production drive comes because the Federal Government expands alternatives for upstream funding by successive oil and fuel licensing rounds.
- Nairametrics earlier reported that belongings supplied within the NUPRC’s 2025 oil licensing spherical may add about 500 million barrels to Nigeria’s crude oil reserves and a minimum of 300,000 bpd of crude oil and condensate production inside 5 years, topic to profitable growth of the belongings.
- The fee stated the projected contribution may assist Nigeria’s ambition to lift oil production to 3 million bpd by 2030.
- The Federal Government opened the 2026 oil and fuel licensing spherical on Wednesday, providing 40 blocks throughout onshore, shallow-water and deepwater terrains to native and worldwide buyers.
- The train follows the 2025 licensing spherical, during which 31 corporations emerged as winners of 37 oil and fuel blocks after a aggressive bidding course of.
The success of the broader production technique will rely not solely on awarding licences and approving drilling actions, but in addition on the power of operators to develop belongings, resolve production constraints and produce extra volumes to market.
