• Surpasses OPEC quota for third consecutive

By Oluwayanmife Lucas

For the third consecutive month, Nigeria has sustained exceeding her Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC+) allocated crude oil quoted of 1.5 million barrels per day (mbpd). This was contained in the latest statistics from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) released yesterday.

According to the data, in the month of July, the country produced 1.505mbpd of crude oil and 0.17mbpd of condensate, bringing the combined daily production to 1.67mbpd. In this period, the daily peak production of crude oil and condensate was 1.78mbpd while the lowest daily production was 1.57mbpd.

A breakdown of the daily average crude oil and condensate production by terminals/streams during the review month shows that Forcados Terminal accounted for 322.34kbpd while Bonny Terminal accounted for 303.72kbpd while Qua Iboe Terminal recorded an average production of 158.02kbpd of crude oil and condensates while Escravos Oil Terminal posted a daily average of 131.41kbpd. Bonga ranked as the fifth highest producing terminal, recording an average of 100.23kbpd of crude oil.

Although Nigeria met its OPEC quota in the month of July, the statistics show that on a month on month basis, production fell by four per cent. This, the Commission, in a statement signed by its Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, attributed the decline in production to operational challenges experienced at the Erha and Akpofields, which impacted production output during the period under review.

“These disruptions constrained production volumes and contributed significantly to the overall reduction in national crude oil output. But despite the challenges encountered, production operations across other producing assets remained relatively stable, with operators implementing measures aimed at maintaining production efficiency and minimizing the impact of operational constraints. Routine production activities and crude evacuation operations were largely sustained across the sector,” the statement said.

The sustained increase represents a buoy for the country’s 2.2mbpd production output target by end of 2026. This, if attained, will support the national budget viability, which bodies like the Nigeria Economic Summit Group (NESG) said remains critical for stabilising government revenue and foreign exchange. The NUPRC said the July outcome underscores the importance of proactive asset management, operational resilience, and timely intervention in mitigating production disruptions within the Nigerian upstream petroleum industry.

It added that industry stakeholders remain focused on addressing the identified operational issues, restoring affected production capacity and strengthening asset reliability to support improved performance in subsequent months.
The sustained production output by the country has also contributed to OPEC+ boost in its output. In the month of July, the organisation recorded an increase in her oil production soared by 1.17mbpd from its June figure.

Still, in January and May, Nigeria contributed 1.53mbpd respectively to OPEC+ representing 102 per cent compliance. However, in February, March and April, the country failed to meet the quota allocation contributing 1.40mbpd or 93 per cent compliance; 1.38mbpd or 92 per cent compliance and 1.48 mbpd or 99 per cent compliance respectively to OPEC+.

• Positions Arahas and SGIR for Next Phase of Growth

By Temitayo Lucas
Sahara Upstream is accelerating the next phase of its oilfield services strategy, strengthening Arahas Global Oilfield Services (Arahas) and SGIR Rigs and Energy Limited as integrated platforms designed to support growing demand for world-class upstream services across Africa.

As part of this strategic direction, Sahara has appointed Gopi Nath as Director, Oilfield Services, with responsibility for providing strategic oversight for both businesses as they drive operational integration, expand service capabilities, and deliver greater value across the upstream value chain.

Speaking on the appointment, Executive Director, Sahara Upstream, Ade Odunsi, said the next phase of growth for Africa’s upstream industry will depend on strong regional service companies with the capability to execute increasingly complex projects safely, efficiently, and sustainably. Besides, he explained that the development reflects the firm’s continued investment in building indigenous oilfield services capacity capable of supporting Africa’s evolving energy landscape through engineering excellence, operational reliability, innovation and sustainable execution.

“Building resilient energy systems requires equally resilient service businesses. Arahas and SGIR are strategically positioned to deliver the technical expertise, operational excellence, and customer-focused solutions required by operators across the continent. Gopi’s appointment strengthens our ability to accelerate that ambition,” Odunsi said.

He noted that Sahara continues to invest in businesses that create long-term value across Africa’s energy sector. “Our objective is not simply to grow two businesses. We are building integrated service platforms capable of supporting exploration, drilling, engineering, project delivery, and production operations at a standard that competes globally while remaining rooted in Africa,” he added.

Commenting on his appointment, Nath said Sahara has built strong foundations for creating one of Africa’s leading oilfield services platforms.
“This is an exciting period for Sahara’s oilfield services business. We have exceptional talent, established capabilities, and a clear strategic direction. My focus will be on strengthening collaboration across Arahas and SGIR, enhancing customer value, driving execution excellence, and expanding our service offerings to meet the evolving needs of Africa’s energy industry,” he said, assuring that the businesses would continue setting new benchmarks for safety, innovation, operational performance, and stakeholder value while supporting sustainable energy development across the continent.

Nath further noted that Arahas was established to deliver high-impact oilfield services anchored on engineering excellence, operational reliability, innovation, and sustainability, while SGIR provides drilling, engineering, project execution, and field support services that enhance operational efficiency across upstream operations.
“Together, both businesses form a critical component of Sahara Upstream’s long-term strategy to strengthen local capacity, improve execution, and provide integrated solutions across the upstream value chain,” he concluded.

By Temitayo Lucas

The Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC), Jennifer Adighije, an engineer, has called for the optimisation of Nigeria’s electricity infrastructure as a critical pathway to unlocking the country’s socio-economic transformation, saying reliable power remains the foundation for industrialisation, investment and sustainable national development.

Adighije made the call while delivering the Distinguished Alumni Lecture organised by the Department of Electrical and Electronics Engineering, Faculty of Engineering, University of Lagos (UNILAG), recently. The lecture was titled: “Optimising Electricity for Powering Nigeria’s New Socio-Economic Frontiers.”

According to Adighije, electricity has become the “currency of development” in today’s global economy, stressing that nations with reliable and affordable power supply are better positioned to create jobs, attract investments, drive industrialisation, strengthen healthcare and education systems, and improve the overall quality of life of their citizens.

She noted that the Electricity Act 2023 represents one of the most significant reforms in Nigeria’s power sector by granting states the authority to establish and regulate their own electricity markets.

“The legislation has created unprecedented opportunities for investment, innovation, competition and improved service delivery while accelerating the emergence of vibrant sub-national electricity markets capable of attracting greater private-sector participation,” she said.

Adighije said NDPHC is repositioning itself to maximise the value of its assets by improving operational efficiency, strengthening corporate governance, fostering strategic partnerships and ensuring that investments in the power sector translate into tangible benefits for Nigerians.

She reaffirmed the company’s commitment to supporting the ongoing transformation of the Nigerian Electricity Supply Industry (NESI) through efficient asset management and infrastructure optimisation.

Looking ahead, the NDPHC chief expressed confidence in the next generation of engineers, saying they would play a leading role in deploying smarter electricity grids and cleaner, technology-driven energy systems powered by artificial intelligence, automation, battery storage, smart metering and advanced power electronics.

She urged engineering students to embrace continuous learning, maintain professional discipline and see engineering as a vocation committed to solving societal challenges and building infrastructure that supports economic growth.

Adighije concluded that Nigeria’s electricity sector is entering a new era characterised by reform, innovation, collaboration and increased investment, emphasising that optimising electricity is essential to powering homes, industries and businesses while unlocking the country’s enormous socio-economic potential.

In her opening remarks, the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Lagos, Professor Folasade Ogunsola, described the lecture as a celebration of excellence, collaboration and the enduring legacy of UNILAG.

She commended Adighije as one of the University’s distinguished alumni whose professional accomplishments reflect the institution’s commitment to producing graduates with technical competence, integrity and visionary leadership.

Ogunsola noted that the rapid technological changes associated with the Fourth Industrial Revolution have made stronger partnerships among academia, industry and government increasingly important.

“Through initiatives such as this, we create platforms where experience meets aspiration and where our students are inspired by those who have successfully translated knowledge into impactful service,” she said.

The lecture attracted academics, industry professionals, students and stakeholders from Nigeria’s power sector, providing a platform for robust discussions on electricity sector reforms, innovation and the critical role of engineering in driving the country’s economic development.