The federal government has called on oil and gas companies operating in Nigeria to ramp up production and meet the country’s quota under the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

Speaking at the ongoing 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas Opportunities Fair (NOGOF) in Bayelsa, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Chief Ekperenkpo Ekpo, urged stakeholders to close the production gap and enhance collaboration within the industry.

“Our current production of 1.4 million barrels per day is far below the 1.8 million barrels per day quota approved by OPEC,” Ekpo stated. He was represented at the event by the ministry’s Permanent Secretary, Emeka Obi.Ekpo emphasized the importance of industry partnerships in reversing Nigeria’s dwindling output.

“We must work together to close this gap and strengthen our position in the global energy market,” he said.He also praised the Nigeria Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) for creating platforms that promote indigenous participation in the oil sector.

“Growing Nigerian content from 5% in 2010 to 56% in 2024 is an outstanding achievement,” Ekpo noted.

The call to action comes amid broader concerns over falling oil production, pipeline challenges, and underinvestment, all of which threaten Nigeria’s economic and budgetary projections for 2025.