Nigeria’s Oil Output Surges to 1.8m bpd as Lokpobiri Pushes for 2.5m Target, Tougher Sector Accountability

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, delivering his keynote address at the Management Retreat of the Ministry of Petroleum Resources

.... "Crude oil production has risen from about 1 million barrels per day to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day, while active drilling rigs have increased from fewer than 10 to over 60 across various locations in the country." Lokpobiri

The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has reaffirmed the Federal Government’s commitment to deepening reforms, strengthening accountability, and attracting increased investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.

Speaking at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources Management Retreat in Abuja, themed “Driving Institutional Performance and Accountability in the Nigerian Petroleum Sector for Sustainable National Development,” the Minister said recent policy reforms have significantly improved investor confidence and sector performance.

Lokpobiri disclosed that crude oil production has risen from about 1 million barrels per day to approximately 1.8 million barrels per day, while active drilling rigs have increased from fewer than 10 to over 60 across various locations in the country.

He attributed the growth to policy stability, regulatory certainty, and improved investment conditions, noting that Nigeria is now better positioned as a competitive destination for global oil and gas investments.

According to him, Nigeria’s foreign reserves have also climbed above $50 billion—the highest in 17 years—while downstream reforms have helped eliminate the long-standing fuel queues previously experienced nationwide.

Despite the progress, the Minister stressed the need to sustain momentum, urging stakeholders to push production beyond 2.5 million barrels per day and expand gas output to fully harness the country’s energy potential.

He also called for intensified exploration in frontier and inland basins, including the Anambra, Benue, Chad, and Dahomey Basins, to boost reserves and secure long-term energy sustainability.

Lokpobiri further noted a global shift in energy discourse from “energy transition” to “energy mix,” stressing the importance of balanced policies that ensure energy security while sustaining investment inflows and economic growth.

Patience Oyekunle
Permanent Secretary Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources 

The Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Mrs. Patience Oyekunle, described the retreat as a platform for knowledge sharing and institutional learning, urging participants to engage constructively.

Also speaking, the Director of Planning, Research and Statistics, Mrs. Kemi Ahmed Yusuf, said the retreat was aimed at strengthening the Ministry’s capacity to deliver on its mandate.

The two-day retreat, held from June 10 to 11, 2026, brought together senior officials of the Ministry, heads of agencies, and industry facilitators to chart a path for sustained growth, improved accountability, and enhanced performance in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.