The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has approved 595 well re-entries, 145 new well-drilling operations and 39 Field Development Plans (FDPs) year-to-date in 2026, as it seeks to boost oil production and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
The Commission Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed the figures on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, during the management session of the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.
Represented by the Deputy Director, Basinal Administration at NUPRC, Ahmad Abdullahi, Eyesan said the approvals reflected improvements in the Commission’s regulatory processes and were intended to reduce project delays and encourage investment in the upstream petroleum sector.
Eyesan said the Commission had accelerated approvals for drilling and field development projects to help operators move forward with production plans and support the availability of energy in the country.
She added that timely approvals were necessary to ensure Nigeria’s energy security was not threatened.
The Commission approved 39 Field Development Plans during the period. It granted 145 approvals for new well-drilling operations. A further 595 approvals were issued for well re-entry activities.
Eyesan said reducing approval waiting periods would help limit costs incurred by operators while projects remain on hold.
The NUPRC chief executive said the regulatory approach was focused on ensuring that applications for field development and new drilling received the necessary approvals to support production targets and energy availability.
Eyesan also disclosed that Nigeria’s total rig count had risen to more than 100, with 46 rigs actively involved in drilling. She said this represented an increase of more than 300% compared with the level recorded in 2021.
She attributed the improvement in upstream activity to greater regulatory certainty, noting that investors were more willing to commit capital when they had confidence in the policies and operating environment of the sector.
Better seismic information can support exploration decisions and help companies identify potential hydrocarbon resources.
The Commission also highlighted efforts to improve security across the oil and gas industry. These include the Advanced Cargo Declaration programme and coordinated surveillance involving the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), private security companies such as Tantita Security Services and the Nigerian Navy.
Eyesan said the regulator’s responsibility extended beyond sanctioning errant operators and vandals. Its broader objective, she explained, was to create an environment where legitimate oil production would be more profitable than crude oil theft.
The latest approvals come amid wider efforts to restore idle production capacity and attract investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The exercise follows the 2025 licensing round, in which 31 companies emerged as winners of 37 oil and gas blocks after a competitive bidding process.
