Nigeria: Nigeria reaches 1.7M barrels daily in oil output multiple times this year
By Zuleihat Owuiye, Mamos Nigeria
Nigeria’s oil industry has recorded several strong production surges this year, with output exceeding 1.7 million barrels per day on multiple occasions. This milestone reflects a steady recovery in the sector and growing confidence among investors.
Speaking at a training session for journalists in Lagos, the head of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, explained that the country’s upstream activities have gained significant momentum. He noted that the number of rigs in operation has nearly reached 70, with more than 40 currently active across various fields.
He added that several major investment decisions—worth billions of dollars—have been finalized over the last ten months. According to him, the Commission has approved around $20 billion in Field Development Plans during this period, underscoring renewed investor interest.
Komolafe highlighted that the repeated climb above 1.7 million barrels per day shows Nigeria’s growing ability to meet—and even surpass—its expected output levels.
Looking ahead, he said the Commission is committed to helping the country add an extra one million barrels of oil per day to its production capacity. As part of this plan, another licensing round is scheduled for December 1, 2025. He emphasized that the upcoming round is expected to be even more transparent and competitive than previous ones, opening new opportunities and expanding Nigeria’s reserves.
He also stressed the important role the media plays in shaping investor confidence. Because the oil and gas sector is highly sensitive to public perception, accurate and responsible reporting, he said, can either attract investment or push it away.
