FG urges oil industry operators to accelerate short-term production gains

From Femi Folaranmi, Yenagoa

The Federal Government of Nigeria has called on operators in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry to take immediate steps to boost crude oil production and capitalize on emerging opportunities in the global energy market.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri stated this while speaking at the Cross-Industry Group (CIG) meeting in London, England.

Lokpobiri emphasized that the Federal Government has continued to implement policies and reforms to create a more attractive and stable investment environment for the sector. According to him, with these efforts in place, the government expects industry players to reciprocate by accelerating production.

“Over the last two years, as a government, we have continued to do our part in creating an enabling environment for investment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. We now look forward to industry reciprocating these efforts.”

Lokpobiri further explained that the current global energy landscape presents a critical window of opportunity for Nigeria to increase production and strengthen its role in global energy supply, particularly amid evolving developments in the Gulf region.

“The current global situation presents a window of opportunity that we must collectively take advantage of in the short term. With the evolving dynamics in the global energy market, Nigeria is well-positioned to help bridge supply gaps,” he stated.

Lokpobiri urged operators to move beyond simply recognizing the opportunity and commit to actionable programs that deliver immediate production gains.

He highlighted several initiatives that can be implemented quickly, including re-entry programmes, in-field well development, and other operational interventions designed to boost output.

“We need you not only to understand the opportunity before us but to actively go to work on programs that can deliver immediate production gains,” he said. “These include re-entry programmes, in-field well development, and other operational initiatives that can be executed quickly.” The minister also encouraged companies to prioritize non-major repairs and operational interventions that can rapidly restore shut-in production and improve output across existing assets.

While noting that many government engagements with industry typically focus on long-term development programmes, Lokpobiri stressed that the current global environment requires renewed attention to short-term production optimisation.

He reaffirmed Nigeria’s position as one of the most attractive investment destinations in the global oil and gas industry, stressing that stakeholders should collaborate to ensure the country maximizes opportunities in the evolving global energy market.