By Obiabin Onukwugha
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has stated that domestic refineries received more than 127 million barrels of crude oil between January and September 2026.
The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this at the OTL Africa Downstream Energy Week 2026 in Lagos on Monday.
Eyesan, who was represented by the Assistant Director of Operations, Mr. Prosper Omonedo, said the Commission had intervened to improve crude oil deliveries to local refineries after disagreements between producers and refiners disrupted supplies in the first quarter of the year.
Speaking on the theme, “Secure Energy, Shared Prosperity,” Eyesan said engagements with producers and refiners had helped improve supplies in the second and third quarters. “We engaged producers and refiners, and in the second and third quarters, 53.7 and 45.1 million barrels of crude oil and condensate were supplied to domestic refineries,” she said.
She explained that the deliveries represented overall performance levels of 97.4 per cent and 76.2 per cent, respectively, adding that more than 127 million barrels of Nigerian crude had been supplied to local refineries between the first and third quarters of 2026.
Eyesan revealed that the Commission was also consulting oil producers, refiners and other stakeholders on a domestic crude swap framework aimed at reducing transportation costs and making crude supplies more efficient.
“Under it, a refiner could receive crude from the nearest suitable production or export point instead of moving an allocated grade over long distances, which could take an estimated three to four dollars off the cost of every barrel,” she said.
The Commission Chief Executive mentioned that Nigeria recorded an average of 1.717 million barrels per day of crude oil and condensate in September, representing a 2.34 per cent increase over the August figure.
She added that crude oil production alone averaged 1.53 million barrels per day, marking the fifth consecutive month the industry had met or exceeded its production quota.
According to her, the improvement resulted from better maintenance of oil facilities, stronger security around evacuation infrastructure, improved cooperation with operators and sustained regulatory efforts to restore production from shut-in wells.
On the 2026 oil licensing round, Eyesan said the 40 blocks being offered would undergo a transparent evaluation process, with clear assessment criteria and mandatory disclosure of beneficial ownership.
She said the Commission was also enforcing the drill-or-drop principle to discourage investors from holding oil licences without developing the assets.
The NUPRC chief executive further noted that the 22 companies awarded licences in recent rounds were expected to contribute at least 250,000 barrels per day to national production within five years.
Eyesan reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to meeting the Domestic Gas Delivery Obligation and strengthening cooperation with the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
She added that the collaboration will help align refinery demand with crude oil supply plans and ensure that increased production in the upstream sector translated into real benefits for households, industries and power generation.
