The Federal Government has introduced 37 new evacuation routes for crude oil transportation across the country. The initiative, spearheaded by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), was announced during the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja.
Mr. Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, disclosed that the strategic introduction of the new routes will play a pivotal role in tightening security around oil assets. According to him, these evacuation channels are part of a wider plan to curb the decades-long scourge of oil theft that has cost Nigeria billions in lost revenue. Backed by enhanced collaboration with security agencies, the new network is designed to bolster traceability, ensure safe delivery of crude oil, and restore accountability throughout the value chain.
Komolafe further revealed that the commission is working to ensure that domestic refineries have adequate access to crude oil, a move that would not only reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported petroleum products but also revitalize local economies and generate employment.
In a bid to promote transparency and deepen community engagement, the NUPRC has launched an innovative platform known as HostComply. This platform is designed to provide direct benefits to host communities in oil-producing regions while fostering peace, development, and mutual accountability between industry players and locals.
The reforms are unfolding under the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whose government has already attracted over $16 billion in energy investments within two years. These achievements are largely tied to the successful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which has repositioned Nigeria as a competitive investment destination through improved regulatory clarity and enhanced local content incentives.
Related Articles:
- Operation Delta Safe arrests 699 for Oil theft, pipeline vandalism, others in 2022
- Nigeria’s seeming helplessness and Tompolo’s solution to oil theft
- NSCDC parades eight suspects for oil theft in Akwa Ibom
Despite global efforts to transition to clean energy, Komolafe emphasized that oil and gas remain central to the world’s energy needs, supplying more than half of global consumption. He noted that for Nigeria to sustain and scale up its production, the nation must invest an estimated $640 billion annually until 2030, translating to over $4 trillion by the end of the decade. Failure to meet this demand, he warned, could lead to wider global instability, underscoring the need for Africa to increase its upstream output and participate more significantly in global energy dynamics.
The NUPRC is also advancing its “One Million Barrels Project”, a national initiative aimed at ramping up production by reactivating dormant oil fields and fast-tracking regulatory approvals. With current daily production levels at approximately 1.7 million barrels, the Commission is pushing toward an ambitious 2.5 million barrels per day target by 2026, a move that could restore Nigeria’s status as Africa’s leading oil producer.
While oil and gas continue to account for nearly 90 percent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange earnings and 70 percent of government revenue, Komolafe reassured stakeholders that environmental responsibility is a top priority. As part of Nigeria’s pledge to achieve net-zero emissions by 2060, the NUPRC is integrating sustainability goals into its operational blueprint, ensuring that economic growth does not come at the expense of climate resilience.
This multi-pronged approach signals a new era for Nigeria’s energy landscape, one where innovation, security, and sustainability converge to position the nation for long-term growth and global relevance.
