By Obiabin Onukwugha
Nigeria could access 1.7 billion barrels of crude and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)’s 43 Field Development Plans (FDPs) recorded this year.
The Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, gave the indication at the 43rd Annual International Conference and Exhibition (AICE) of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos on Monday.
The CCE, who was represented by the Director, Subsurface Development of the Commission, Emmanuel Mac-Jaja, noted that these FDPs reflected a resurgence in investments in Nigeria’s Upstream sector.
Speaking on the theme, “Revitalising the Nigerian Petroleum Exploration and Production: Strategies for Energy Security and Sustainable Development,” the NURPC boss said the development depicts significant progress in the sector.
“In 2025 alone, 43 new Field Development Plans (FDPs) were approved, unlocking 1.7 billion barrels of oil and 7.7 trillion cubic feet of gas, backed by over $20bn in committed capital,” he said.
Engineer Komolafe stated that major Final Investment Decisions (FIDs), including the $5billion for Bonga North, $500 million for Ubeta Gas, and $2 billion for Shell’s HI Gas Project, havr unlocked nearly two trillion standard cubic feet of gas for the country.
The NUPRC boss stated that indigenous participation continues to deepen, with local acquisition deals exceeding $5bn, signaling growing confidence in homegrown players.
He noted that Nigeria’s push to reignite oil and gas exploration and production has entered a new phase. According to him, Nigeria is at a defining moment in global energy one of transition, transformation, and opportunity.
Speaking further on balancing transition with reality, the NUPRC boss observed that while the global shift toward renewables is gaining momentum, oil and gas will remain indispensable for decades to come, particularly in developing economies where energy access remains a critical challenge.
On upstream reforms powering growth, Komolafe outlined several ongoing initiatives aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s upstream sector for long-term progress.
These, he said, include advanced data systems that involve the use of cutting -edge technologies like stress field detection and an upgraded National Data Repository to de-risk exploration; continuous acreage licensing, which provides a transparent and predictable framework for global competitiveness; and the Project One Million Barrels, a push to restore and grow daily production through rig reactivation and well optimization.
He said deepwater expansion, through cluster development and shared infrastructure, is helping to cut costs and accelerate first oil, while frontier basin development leverages the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to explore untapped basins across Nigeria.
On the increase in investments, the CCE highlighted significant progress driven by these reforms, pointing out that rig activity has risen from just eight in 2021 to well over 40 today, reflecting renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream sector.
On environmental stewardship, Komolafe reaffirmed the NUPRC’s commitment to responsible operations through key initiatives such as gas flare commercialisation, the Decade of Gas, and the Presidential CNG Initiative, all designed to turn waste into wealth.
The CCE spotlighted the Commission’s Upstream Decarbonisation Framework, which integrates methane monitoring, carbon capture, and access to carbon finance.
He said the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT), powered by the HostComply platform, ensures transparency, accountability, and shared prosperity for oil-bearing communities, while expressing confidence that the reforms underway would firmly position Nigeria as a global energy hub once again.