The NUPRC has approved 595 well re-entries, 145 new well-drilling operations and 39 Field Development Plans (FDPs) year-to-date in 2026, in a move to boost oil production, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed the figures in Lagos on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during a presentation at the management session of the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), held under the theme, “Energy Security in an Era of Global Disruption: Positioning Nigeria for Resilience, Competitiveness, and Prosperity.”
The CCE who was represented by the Deputy Director, Basinal Administration, NUPRC, Ahmad Abdullahi, explained that the approvals were part of the Commission’s strategy to ensure that regulatory processes support production growth and the availability of energy in the country.
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The CCE announced, "Year to date, about 39 FDPs have been approved. About 145 new well-drilling approvals granted. Year to date, about 595 well reentry approvals were granted. That goes to tell that as a commission, we have improved our approval time level, which again reduce costs that is being wasted or for projects to continue to wait for approval.
“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."
The CCE noted that the rising number of approvals reflects improvements in the Commission’s approval processes, which have helped reduce waiting periods and the costs operators incur while projects remain on hold.
The NUPRC boss also disclosed that Nigeria’s total rig count now stands at 100 out of which 46 are currently active.
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