Upstream Regulator Approves 28 Field Development Plans

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said it approved 28 Field Development Plans (FDPs) so far in 2025, which are expected to add 600,000 barrels of oil per day and more than 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas daily to Nigeria’s production output.

The chief executive of the NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe said this at the ongoing 2025 World Energies Summit convened by Frontier Energy Network in London.

He said that in 2025 alone, 28 new FDPs had already been approved, unlocking an additional 1.4 billion barrels of oil and 5.4 trillion cubic feet of gas.

“These projects are expected to add nearly 600,000 barrels of oil per day and more than 2 billion standard cubic feet of gas per day, supported by $18.2 billion in committed CAPEX. Together, these outcomes demonstrate that Nigeria’s upstream sector is not only on a growth trajectory but is also attracting the scale of investment needed to sustain its role as a premier global energy hub.”The NUPRC boss noted that the President Bola Tinubu-led government and the Commission are responding with bold reforms and strategic actions to turn challenges into opportunities amidst global pressures for energy transition.

He therefore asked investors to seize the vast opportunities ahead of the launch of Nigeria’s next Block Licensing Round.

Highlighting the dividends of bold reforms, the CCE disclosed that the Commission had conducted licensing initiatives such as the 2022 Petroleum Prospecting Licences, the Mini-Bid Round for deep offshore blocks, and the landmark 2024 Licensing Round, which was adjudged transparent by operators and stakeholders, including the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI).

“Beyond the successes of our data acquisition campaigns and licensing rounds, every key metric on our performance dashboard reflects widening access and exceptional investor participation.

Rig activity, for instance, has surged from just 8 in 2021 to 70 today, out of which 41 are drilling on site. Production has also risen significantly, from 1.46 million barrels per day in October 2024 to around 1.8 million barrels per day.

“Major Final Investment Decisions, such as the $5 billion Bonga North and $500 million Ubeta Gas Project, underscore renewed long-term investor confidence, with several more expected soon,” the CCE disclosed.

The CCE maintained that the energy transition is a security matter for the continent and Nigeria. He noted that this has led to bold reforms aligned with the country’s transition strategy, the Decade of Gas.

He highlighted how the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, reshaped and clarified the Nigerian oil and gas industry.

According to him, the PIA ushered in fiscal reforms and investor-centric policies anchored in transparency, ethical governance, clarity, predictability, sustainability, competitiveness, and investor confidence.

He noted that the NUPRC, established by the PIA, has issued 24 regulations benchmarked against global standards to restore confidence and stability.

Komolafe reiterated that President Tinubu’s three Executive Orders issued in 2024 have further incentivised Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.As part of moves toward a just transition, Komolafe said Nigeria is embedding climate responsibility at the heart of its upstream reforms through a robust Decarbonisation Framework that integrates MRV systems, carbon capture and storage, and access to carbon markets.

The NUPRC boss also noted that the administration of the PIA’s Host Communities provisions had strengthened trust and cooperation, enabling companies to operate more effectively.

According to him, these outcomes demonstrate that Nigeria’s upstream sector is not only on a growth trajectory but is also attracting the scale of investment needed to sustain its role as a premier global energy hub.

He further stated that investors now had unprecedented access to both mature and frontier basins, which have been incentivised with favourable fiscal terms.“As we prepare to launch Nigeria’s next Block Licensing Round, I extend a warm invitation to our local and global partners to join us in this journey,” he added.