Nigeria Launches Aggressive 90-Day Fast-Track Program to Hit 3 Million Barrels Daily by 2030
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has rolled out an ambitious 90-day reform program designed to dramatically accelerate oil production approvals and push the country toward its bold target of three million barrels per day by 2030. Commission Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan unveiled the sweeping initiative at a major stakeholder engagement in Lagos on Wednesday, announcing immediate fast-tracking of Field Development Plans, well interventions, and rig mobilizations that could deliver early barrels to market.
Eyesan revealed that her vision for the upstream sector rests on three critical pillars: production optimization and revenue expansion, regulatory predictability and speed, and safe, governed and sustainable operations. The plan aligns directly with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which aims to grow Nigeria’s crude oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027 before reaching the three million mark three years later.
The commission boss disclosed that work has already begun, with one long shut-in asset recently brought back online, though she declined to provide specifics. The regulator will now publish Service Level Agreements for all major approvals, establishing clear timelines and obligations for both operators and the regulatory body itself. A digital workflow for permitting, reporting and data submissions is also being deployed to remove bottlenecks and improve efficiency.
To deepen engagement with industry players, Eyesan announced the establishment of a monthly forum involving NNPC, Oil Producers Trade Section, Independent Petroleum Producers Group and emerging producers. The forum will focus on approval timelines, production restoration, infrastructure integrity, and gas monetization. The commission will issue quarterly progress reports to track performance, with Eyesan pledging full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act within 12 months.
Nigeria, Africa’s largest oil producer, has struggled with declining output in recent years due to underinvestment, oil theft and prolonged regulatory delays. Persistent shortfalls against budget targets reflect deeper structural constraints that the sector continues to grapple with. Eyesan was appointed Commission Chief Executive in December 2025 by President Tinubu, bringing decades of experience in petroleum economics, field development and reserves management to the role.
Source: punchng.com
