The federal government has created 37 new crude oil evacuation routes to combat oil theft and boost production levels.
Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), made this known at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja.
He stated, “With 37 new evacuation routes approved and working closely with security agencies, we are curbing theft and boosting accountability.”
Komolafe also emphasized the importance of domestic refining, saying, “Meanwhile, our drive on Domestic Crude Supply Obligation is guaranteeing feedstock for local refineries, strengthening domestic supply chains and economic resilience.”
He highlighted the social impact of the commission’s reforms through the HostComply platform. “On the social front, our HostComply platform has brought transparency and real and measurable benefits to oil-producing communities, fostering peace and a social license to operate.”
He further explained how digital transformation is enhancing investor confidence. “At the same time, our full-scale digitization efforts are transforming regulatory oversight, delivering speed, efficiency, and clarity to investors.”
Komolafe described the current administration’s impact on the sector, noting that Nigeria is undergoing a “historic energy sector transformation” under President Bola Tinubu.
“The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 laid the foundation for this reform. The 2024 executive orders—40 on fiscal incentives, 41 on local content, and 42 on cost efficiency and contract timelines—have catalyzed massive investment inflows. Over 16 billion dollars has been committed in just two years.” He said.
He attributed the surge in investments to far-reaching reforms and bold policy moves designed to reposition the sector for energy security, sustainability, and economic resilience.
Speaking on the global energy landscape, Komolafe said oil and gas would remain crucial, accounting for more than 50 percent of global energy needs, a figure expected to hold through 2050.
“Sustaining the demand would require 640 billion dollars in annual upstream investment through 2030, over four trillion dollars cumulatively. Failure to meet this demand will threaten global stability. Let it be said: the global demand remains strong. Nigeria and Africa cannot afford to ignore this,” he said.
On Nigeria’s production capacity, Komolafe noted progress through the “One Million Barrels Initiative,” launched in 2024, aimed at reviving dormant oil fields and streamlining approvals.
“Through the one million barrels initiative, we are scaling up Nigeria’s production through the reawakening of dormant fields, acceleration of approvals, and enhancement of upstream efficiencies,” he said.
“The initiative, which was inaugurated in 2024, targeted an increase from 1.46 million to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2026. With 1.7 million bpd already achieved, the strategy is yielding results.” He added.
While acknowledging that oil and gas remain Nigeria’s economic backbone, Komolafe affirmed the commission’s commitment to climate goals.
“While oil and gas remain Nigeria’s economic mainstay, contributing nearly 90 percent of Forex earnings and 70 percent of national revenue, the NUPRC is determined to entrench climate responsibility at the core of its operations.”
He concluded by reaffirming Nigeria’s energy transition ambitions: “While Nigeria has pledged to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, it should be known that the NUPRC is turning that ambition into reality.”
