By ebosele@hotmail.com —
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 part of efforts to boost oil production, attract investment and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.
The Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this 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) in Lagos.
The conference was held under the theme: “Energy Security in an Era of Global Disruption: Positioning Nigeria for Resilience, Competitiveness, and Prosperity.”
Eyesan, who was represented by the Deputy Director, Basinal Administration, NUPRC, Ahmad Abdullahi, said the approvals reflected the Commission’s commitment to ensuring that regulatory processes support production growth and guarantee energy availability.
She said, “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.
“That goes to tell that as a commission, we have improved our approval time level, which again reduces costs that are being wasted while projects continue to wait for approval.”
The NUPRC boss explained that timely regulatory approvals were critical to sustaining investment in the upstream petroleum sector and ensuring that Nigeria meets its production targets.
“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.
Eyesan noted that the increase in approvals was driven by improvements in the Commission’s regulatory processes, which have reduced approval timelines and the costs associated with delays in project execution.
She added that faster processing of applications would encourage operators to advance their development projects, support increased crude oil production and improve the country’s capacity to meet its energy needs.
The NUPRC Chief Executive also disclosed that Nigeria’s total rig count had risen to 100, with 46 rigs currently active.
