Nigeria’s push to reclaim its leadership in Africa’s oil and gas landscape took center stage this week as Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), delivered a compelling address at the opening of the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Conference and Exhibition in Abuja.
Speaking before a high-powered audience of policymakers, industry leaders, and global investors, Lokpobiri reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering commitment to increasing crude oil production and reigniting investor confidence in Nigeria’s energy sector. He expressed concern over the alarming number of dormant oil wells scattered across the country, describing it as a missed opportunity that Nigeria can no longer afford.
“Our goal remains to increase production and ensure Nigeria regains its rightful position as Africa’s leading oil producer,” Lokpobiri declared.
He highlighted the government’s ongoing efforts to create a more investor-friendly environment, even amid global energy transitions and economic volatility.
The minister outlined a multi-pronged strategy aimed at addressing persistent challenges stalling production growth. These include:
- Insecurity in oil-producing regions,
- Infrastructural deficits, and
- Regulatory uncertainties that have long dampened investor enthusiasm.
He called for stronger collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders to remove these bottlenecks and unlock Nigeria’s full hydrocarbon potential.
Beyond production targets, Lokpobiri placed strong emphasis on building local content. He reiterated that strengthening indigenous capacity is central to the administration’s vision. “We want Nigerian companies to lead—not only as service providers but as asset owners,” he said, signaling a broader shift towards economic empowerment within the sector.
Applauding recent reforms, he pointed to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a landmark framework for stability, transparency, and long-term investment planning.
The full implementation of the PIA, he added, is expected to create the certainty investors crave while catalyzing growth across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments.
The minister also touched on lessons from global disruptions like the COVID-19 pandemic, urging the sector to build resilience through innovation and adaptation.
He praised the Tinubu administration for prioritizing oil and gas sector reforms, noting that such steps are critical to achieving national energy security and broader economic diversification goals.
Running throughout the week, the 2025 NOG Conference has convened stakeholders from across the globe to explore forward-looking strategies for repositioning Nigeria’s oil and gas sector amid shifting global energy dynamics. From investment prospects to policy clarity and innovation, the event continues to shape dialogue around Nigeria’s energy future.
As the conference unfolds, all eyes remain on how Nigeria will translate this renewed commitment into measurable production gains, economic impact, and energy transformation in the months ahead.
