The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has approved 595 well re-entries, 145 new drilling operations and 39 Field Development Plans (FDPs) in the first 10 months of 2026 as part of efforts to increase oil production and strengthen Nigeria’s energy security.

The Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this on Tuesday, November 10, during a presentation at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) in Lagos.

Eyesan, who was represented by the Commission’s Deputy Director of Basinal Administration, Ahmad Abdullahi Al-Bako, said the approvals reflected improvements in the regulator’s processes and its efforts to accelerate upstream operations.

She explained that faster approval of drilling applications and field development plans would enable operators to execute projects without unnecessary delays and reduce costs associated with waiting for regulatory clearance.

According to her, the Commission is prioritising timely approvals to ensure that oil and gas projects progress quickly enough to support national production targets and guarantee energy availability.

Eyesan also revealed that Nigeria’s total rig count had reached 100, although only 46 rigs were currently active.

She said the Commission would continue to support exploration and production activities through efficient regulation, adding that timely approval of new projects remained essential to sustaining output and attracting investment into the upstream sector.

The conference was held under the theme, “Energy Security in an Era of Global Disruption: Positioning Nigeria for Resilience, Competitiveness, and Prosperity.”