The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it is firmly on track to reach 2.5 million barrels per day target by 2026, while adopting the cluster and nodal development strategy to de-risk investments and reduce project costs in Nigeria oil and gas sector.
Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive Officer, NUPRC, stated this at the the PENGASSAN Energy and Labour Summit (PEALS) 2025 in Abuja on Thursday. According to him, the cluster development strategy also position Nigeria’s deepwater as a competitive, investor-friendly frontier capable of delivering substantial incremental barrels within the next few years.
According to him, the Commission, through proactive industry collaboration, has been spearheading strategic initiatives that directly support the Project One Million Barrels per day incremental production target.
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“At the heart of this effort is the cluster and nodal development strategy, designed to maximise shared infrastructure, capture economies of scale, and enable coordinated tiebacks to existing FPSOs like Bonga, Egina, and Agbami. This approach significantly reduces project costs, shortens timelines and de-risks investments.
” This collaborative model mirrors global success stories from regions like the North Sea, where cluster strategies revitalized mature basins and sustained competitiveness for decades. It also positions Nigeria’s deepwater as a competitive, investor-friendly frontier capable of delivering substantial incremental barrels within the next few years.
“Coupled with reactivating dormant fields, accelerating approvals, and deploying improved recovery techniques, these efforts have already increased production from 1.46 million barrels per day baseline in October 2024 to 1.8 million barrels today. With this momentum, we are firmly on track to reach our 2.5 million barrels per day target by 2026,” he said.
On sustainability and ESG drive, Komolafe revealed that the Commission is taking decisive steps to future-proof the industry.
He also noted that the upstream decarbonisation framework and gas-centric transition strategy is aimed to eliminate routine flaring by 2030, cut methane emissions by 60 percent by 2031, and monetise the nation’s vast gas resources.
Komolafe speaking further, emphasised that policy and capital alone do not create value; but people do. He said that Nigeria’s youthful population, with nearly 70 percent under the age of 30, represents a powerful demographic dividend, offering an energy and talent pool unmatched by most other oil-producing nations.
“The role of PENGASSAN members is central. You are the skilled engineers, geoscientists, HSE professionals, project managers, and technicians who turn investment into output, and output into national prosperity.
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“In many oil-producing regions, ageing workforces are forcing companies to import talent to keep operations running. Nigeria’s opportunity is different: with a young and dynamic population, we have the chance to train, retain, and even export world-class energy professionals; positioning our nation not only as a leading oil producer but also as a human capital hub driving Africa’s energy transition,” he said.
