LAGOS — Nigeria’s upstream oil regulator has approved 145 new well-drilling operations, 595 well re-entries and 39 field development plans so far in 2026, as the country intensifies efforts to raise crude output, attract investment and strengthen energy security.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) disclosed the figures on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.
NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, represented by Ahmad Abdullahi, Deputy Director of Basin Administration, said the approvals reflect faster regulatory processing that has reduced project delays and costs for operators.
“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,” Eyesan said. She noted that improved approval timelines are helping operators advance projects needed to meet production targets and support energy availability.
Nigeria currently has more than 100 drilling rigs in the country, with 46 active this year — an increase of more than 300 per cent from 2021 levels, according to the regulator.
Eyesan also revealed that seismic companies have invested more than $100 million in Nigeria since the Petroleum Industry Act came into force three years ago. The investments have improved exploration data and supported efforts to discover new oil and gas reserves.
The regulator is simultaneously working to curb crude oil theft across the country, a longstanding challenge that has constrained production.
The approvals form part of broader reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act aimed at improving the investment climate and reversing years of declining upstream activity. Nigeria continues to pursue higher output targets, including a long-term goal of reaching three million barrels per day.
Industry observers say the rise in both new drilling and well re-entry approvals signals renewed operational momentum, particularly among indigenous operators seeking to reactivate idle wells and develop existing assets more efficiently.
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