Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited (EEPNL), an affiliate of ExxonMobil, has said that more focus on regulatory clarity and human capital development will unlock Nigeria’s oil and gas potential. The company recently revealed that the country’s production targets of 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million by 2030 is proof of its ambition.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) Conference in Lagos, Etabuko Abirhire, Executive Director, Development at EEPNL, shared that fulfilling the ambition requires streamlined regulation, policy clarity and key collaborations to attract investors.
According to him, determined execution by shareholders and consistent partnerships will guarantee the achievement of Nigeria’s immediate production goals.
“Operational efficiency and human capital development are foundational to unlocking the sector’s full potential. Regulators must provide clarity not just at the macro level, but at the execution phase.
Achieving our production goals will demand deliberate effort, collaboration, and disciplined execution by all stakeholders,” he said.
He further hailed the reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and recent presidential directives, stressing that there has been increased investor confidence, especially in deepwater projects.
Etabuko Abirhire, however, emphasized that speed and clarity of implementation remain key to avoiding drawbacks in the near future.
“Technologies like our Discovery 6 Supercomputer have cut seismic processing time from months to weeks, accelerating decision-making and production start-up,” he added.
