AMNI International Petroleum Development Company has begun a new phase of offshore operations at its Okoro oil field following the mobilisation of a drilling rig to the asset, signalling a renewed push to raise crude oil output.
The company said the rig deployment marks the start of a fresh offshore drilling campaign designed to enhance production efficiency, strengthen reservoir management and sustain output from the field. Okoro, one of AMNI’s key producing assets, is expected to deliver peak production of more than 12,000 barrels of crude oil per day once the current development programme is fully executed.
The ongoing operation includes a three-well drilling campaign, which forms part of AMNI’s broader five-year strategic plan. The plan focuses on optimising production from existing assets, fast-tracking oil developments and expanding gas commercialisation projects across its portfolio.
Beyond the Okoro field, AMNI and its partners are advancing several oil and gas projects with a combined investment value estimated at over $2.5bn. According to the company, these developments are projected to deliver peak output in excess of 150,000 barrels of oil equivalent per day over time.
Industry analysts say the scale of investment reflects growing confidence among indigenous oil companies and highlights their increasing role in Nigeria’s upstream sector. Over the past two decades, local operators have moved from marginal field participation to managing complex offshore assets, contributing to production stability and domestic reinvestment.
AMNI, founded in 1993, has more than 30 years of offshore operating experience and maintains operational control over key infrastructure. The company has consistently emphasised responsible asset management and long-term value creation as central to its growth strategy.
Its Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Tunde Afolabi, has repeatedly stated that sustainable expansion for indigenous operators depends on operational discipline, careful capital allocation and technical excellence. The Okoro drilling campaign, the company said, reflects the practical execution of this strategy.
The development aligns with the Federal Government’s goal of boosting national crude oil production to about three million barrels per day, with indigenous companies expected to play a major role in achieving the target.
As preparations for drilling near completion, the Okoro campaign is also seen as part of AMNI’s longer-term growth path, which includes advancing the Tubu oil field and accelerating gas development projects.
The company aims to build a more integrated oil and gas portfolio while strengthening its contribution to Nigeria’s energy supply in the coming years.
