The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) says it has identified more than 788,000 barrels per day (bpd) of shut-in oil production across 63 operators that it is targeting for restoration as part of efforts to increase Nigeria’s crude oil output.
The Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this at the national conference of the Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) in Lagos, according to a post shared by the commission on X on Saturday.
Shut-in production refers to oil wells that are not currently producing, despite having the potential to do so, due to operational, technical, commercial or other constraints.
Eyesan, who was represented by Patricia Temisan-Olatunde, Assistant Director, Corporate Services and Administration, said the commission was accelerating approval processes alongside its licensing rounds to support near-term production growth.
She said 77 wells had been successfully re-entered between January and September 2026, while 128 wells were approved for drilling within the period.
The commission said its immediate priorities include restoring the identified shut-in volumes, advancing major offshore projects to final investment decision (FID) and improving domestic gas supply.
The targeted offshore projects represent a potential investment pipeline of between $30 billion and $50 billion, while the push to improve gas delivery is aimed at ensuring that domestic supply meets the country’s full obligation.
The NUPRC’s efforts are being pursued alongside executive orders issued by President Bola Tinubu to encourage investment in deepwater petroleum projects, as Nigeria works towards its 2030 oil and gas ambitions.
The latest production drive comes as the Federal Government expands opportunities for upstream investment through successive oil and gas licensing rounds.
The success of the broader production strategy will depend not only on awarding licences and approving drilling activities, but also on the ability of operators to develop assets, resolve production constraints and bring additional volumes to market.
