The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) approved 595 oil well re-entries and 145 new drilling operations in the first 10 months of 2026, in a push to increase crude oil production and attract fresh investment into the sector.
The commission also approved 39 Field Development Plans within the period, its Chief Executive Officer, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed on Tuesday.
Eyesan, who was represented by the Deputy Director of Basinal Administration at NUPRC, Ahmad Abdullahi, announced the figures during a management session at the annual international conference and exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists in Lagos.
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She said the approvals reflected improvements in the commission’s regulatory processes, particularly in reducing the time operators spend waiting for clearance to execute projects.
“Year to date, about 39 FDPs have been approved. About 145 new well-drilling approvals granted. Year to date, about 595 well re-entry approvals were granted,” she said.
According to Eyesan, faster approval processes would reduce costs incurred by operators while waiting for regulatory clearance and help ensure that projects are completed on schedule.
“From the regulator’s perspective, to ensure that our energy security is not threatened, we must ensure that we approve Field Development Plans and new well-drilling applications to meet our production targets and guarantee energy availability,” she said.
She also disclosed that Nigeria had more than 100 rigs, with about 46 actively involved in drilling activities in 2026.
“If you compare this with maybe what we had in 2021, you will see that you have more than about 300 per cent increase,” Eyesan said.
The NUPRC chief attributed the rise in drilling activities and investment to improved regulatory certainty, saying investors were more willing to commit funds when they had confidence in the policies and operating environment.
She identified the Petroleum Industry Act as another factor strengthening investor confidence, particularly in the acquisition of seismic data.
“Based on our record, in the last three years, from the enactment of PIA, multi-client companies have invested more than over $100 million in acquiring seismic data in Nigeria,” she said.
On security challenges in the oil and gas industry, Eyesan said the commission had introduced measures including the advanced cargo declaration programme and coordinated surveillance operations.
She said the initiatives involved collaboration with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, private security firms, including Tantita Security Services, and the Nigerian Navy.
The measures form part of efforts to protect oil and gas infrastructure, improve operational security and support increased production.
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