NUPRC records 16 high impact achievements post-PIA

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said it has achieved 16 high impact feats since its establishment four years ago despite the legacy challenges it inherited from the pre-Petroleum Industry Act era.
According to a statement signed by the Commission’s Head, Media and Strategic Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, in 2022, 2023 and 2024, the NUPRC surpassed its revenue target by 18.3 per cent, 14.65 per cent and 84.2 per cent respectively despite fluctuations in oil production and prices thus contributing largely to the country’s economic growth.
Still, it noted that between 2024 and 2025, it approved 79 Field Development Plans (FDP), that is, 41 in 2024 and 38 YTD 2025, with potential investment of $39.98 billion, made up of $20.55b in 2024 and $19.43b in YTD 2025.
NUPRC further said since its inception, crude oil production has increased with current average daily production of 1.65Mbopd expected to increase further with the Project 1Mbopd initiative which is aimed at achieving 2.5 Mbopd in 2027 compared to NUPRC commencement.
“Prior to the establishment of the Commission, the licensing rounds were opaque. They were beclouded by political influence which made the process lack credibility. However, the NUPRC with the support of President Bola Tinubu, transformed the process to be fully digital thereby enhancing transparency and credibility. It was the most transparent bid round on record in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum history as it leveraged digital technology, devoid of any human interference, in a manner adjudged to be in line with global best practices which was even attested to by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI),” the Commission said in a statement.
In line with the PIA 2021, implementing the ‘Drill or Drop’ policy which prescribes that unexplored acreages are to be relinquished, has also been implemented. The policy is designed to ensure the optimal use of oil assets and prevent dormant fields from tying up potential reserves. This policy successfully identified 400 dormant oil fields and has also propelled complacent oil companies to take quick action.
It noted further that the rig count in the upstream oil and gas sector, rose geometrically from eight in 2021 to 69 as of October 2, 2025. The latest rig count of 69 which comprises 40 active rigs, eight on standby, five on warm stack, four on cold stack and 12 on the move, represents a 762.5 per cent increase in barely four years. The number is expected to increase even further in the coming months. This shows a renewed investor confidence in Nigeria and that the right investment climate prevails now in the Nigeria upstream as daily actioned by the NUPRC.
The Commission approved divestments running into billions of dollars in 2024. From the Nigeria Agip Oil Company (NAOC) to Oando Energy Resources; Equinor to Chappal Energies; Mobil Producing Nigeria Unlimited to Seplat Energies; and Shell Development Company Nigeria Limited to Renaissance Africa Energy. The divestment is about investor portfolio re-ordering to focus on deep-offshore development.
To give meaning to the intent of the PIA, 2021, the Commission in consultation with stakeholders has developed 24 regulations. So far 19 have been gazetted while five await gazetting. These forward-thinking Regulations serve as tools for transparency and creation of enabling investment climate and benchmark best practices
In gas flaring commercialization efforts, the commission completed awards of flare sites to successful bidders under the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP). The programme is aimed at eliminating gas flaring and attracting at least $2.5 billion in investments.
Still, the Host Community Development Trusts have remitted N122.34b and over $168.91m as of October 2025. This translates to a combined remittance of over N358.67b based on the prevalent exchange rate in enthroning a conducive host community environment in Nigeria. The Commission is also overseeing at least 536 projects at various stages of completion including schools, health centers, roads and vocational centers being funded by the trust fund.
It is worthy of mention that as part of its mandate to develop the country’s hydrocarbon, the Commission has recorded 306 development wells drilled and completed between 2022 to date. It has also removed hindrances to exploration with 2D and 3D Seismic Data with the issuance of Nigeria’s first Petroleum Exploration Licence (PEL) for a large offshore geophysical survey covering 56,000 km² of 3D seismic and gravity data.
Furthermore, the Commission has reprocessed 17,000 line-kilometres of 2D seismic data and 28,000 square kilometres of 3D seismic data, producing sharper, higher-resolution images of the country’s petroleum systems thereby reducing the uncertainties that once hindered exploration decisions.
Other data acquisition includes: 11,300 Sq.km of newly acquired 3D data, processed to PSDM and 80,000 Sq.km of Multibeam Echo Sounding & Seafloor Geochemical Coring data.
In 2021, the average daily crude oil losses stood at 102,900 barrels per day or 37.6 million barrels per year. However, due to combined efforts of the General Security Forces and Private Security Contractors (TANTITA) as well as collaborative effort of the Commission this has reduced by 90 per cent to specifically 9,600bpd in September 2025. Furthermore, two pioneer regulations introduced by the Commission have also contributed to the success, namely: The Upstream Measurement Regulation and the Advanced Cargo Declaration Regulation respectively, have contributed as pioneer efforts at achieving transparency in hydrocarbon accounting.
Even outside the shores of Nigeria, the engineer Gbenga Komolafe-led NUPRC has continued to show leadership as it championed the establishment of the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF). AFRIPERF provides regulators with the mechanism to harmonise oil and gas development policies to facilitate cross-border infrastructure development, benchmark fiscals and present strong voice for Africa in hydrocarbon advocacy globally.