Nigeria’s oil production could face a steep decline in the coming years if the country fails to make new crude discoveries, the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has warned. The association’s president, Johnbosco Uche, made this known during a media briefing ahead of the 43rd NAPE Annual International Conference and Exhibition, which will take place from November 9 to 13, 2025, in Lagos.
Uche emphasized that renewed investment in exploration is crucial for long-term energy security and sustainable development, noting that Nigeria must act swiftly to secure its place in a changing global energy landscape. This year’s conference, themed “Revitalising the Nigerian Petroleum Exploration and Production Strategies for Energy Security and Sustainable Development,” reflects the urgent need to balance exploration with the ongoing global energy transition.
According to Uche, the country faces a dual challenge — maintaining crude production levels while advancing toward a low-carbon, diversified energy future. He warned that without consistent exploration and policy alignment, Nigeria’s oil output could falter within the next decade. “Energy security must remain at the heart of national development,” he said, urging both government and private investors to reignite exploration in mature basins and adopt modern technologies to enhance production efficiency.
He outlined several strategies to reposition the sector, including revising well classifications to attract investment, strengthening partnerships among international and independent oil firms, and accelerating gas development as a key transition fuel. Uche added that achieving Nigeria’s 2030 production targets of three million barrels of oil and 12 billion cubic feet of gas per day would depend on innovation, new seismic data, and collaboration between government, academia, and industry stakeholders.
The NAPE president described the 2025 conference as a pivotal platform for dialogue, featuring executive sessions, technical discussions, and an awards ceremony at Eko Hotels and Suites, Victoria Island, Lagos. He also praised the media for their continued role in shaping national discourse on energy issues. “Our actions today must secure the energy of tomorrow,” Uche said, reaffirming NAPE’s commitment to ensuring Nigeria’s petroleum industry remains a driver of economic growth and sustainability.
source: punch