The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has announced that the country’s oil production exceeded 1.8 million barrels per day in July 2025.
The Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, disclosed this during his address at the opening of the Society of Petroleum Engineers conference in Lagos over the weekend.
He said: “The Commission is pursuing the Project 1 MMBOPD Incremental initiative with modest gains recorded owing to the multi-stakeholder collaborative approach adopted. We are pleased to report that we achieved a peak production of 1.8 MMBOPD last month, with an average production rate of 1.78 MMBOPD.
“As part of our commitment towards sustainable production, the Commission is optimising the Maximum Efficient Rate framework, addressing produced water management, and aligning operational shutdowns and turnaround maintenance schedules to ensure minimal production disruptions. Given the above and with the concerted efforts of all, the presidential mandate on production increase is well within reach.”
Meanwhile, Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, called on Nigeria and other African nations to define their own path in the global energy transition.
Speaking virtually at the conference themed Building a Sustainable Energy Future: Leveraging Technology, Supply Chain, Human Resources and Policy, Ojulari emphasized the importance of technology adoption, regional collaboration, and human capital investment.
He said: “We must recognise the future of energy is neither linear nor pre-determined; it is shaped by the decisions we make, how we intentionally engage, strategically invest, and boldly embrace innovations. Energy transition must not be imposed; it must be contextualised, just, and negotiated.
“Many of our people are yet to attain basic energy access. Our approach must be balanced and anchored on energy justice. We must deepen alliances across regional lines, foster robust and transparent dialogue among government, industry players, financiers, multilateral institutions, technology leaders, civil society, and our youths.
“Innovation must be embraced not as buzz words but as strategic enablers to achieve net-zero targets without compromising energy access. Large resources and infrastructure will be required to meet Africa’s energy needs. We must derisk our environment by improving governance, streamlining regulatory frameworks, honouring contracts, and ensuring a transparent fiscal system.
“Leveraging blended finance and climate-resilient funds will attract strategic investors with long-term commitments. This is a call for joint stewardship to create credible, attractive, and future-focused investment environments.”
