Esso Exploration and Production Nigeria Limited, an affiliate of ExxonMobil, has called for clear regulations and stronger human capital development to unlock Nigeria’s oil and gas potential.
Speaking at the 2025 Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists Conference in Lagos, Executive Director of Development at EEPNL, Etabuko Abirhire, said Nigeria’s ambitious production targets of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030 require streamlined policies, regulatory certainty, and robust partnerships to attract investment.
Abirhire stated, “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 also at the execution phase. Achieving our production goals will demand deliberate effort, collaboration, and disciplined execution by all stakeholders.”
He commended reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act and recent presidential directives for boosting investor confidence, particularly in deepwater projects, but stressed that speed and clarity of implementation remain critical.
Abirhire also highlighted EEPNL’s progress through collaboration with the NNPCL and NCDMB, noting that evolving governance and pragmatic local content policies will enable large-scale projects. He showcased ExxonMobil’s integrated efficiency model, which leverages technology and skilled talent to deliver projects faster and at a lower cost.
“Technologies like our Discovery 6 Supercomputer have cut seismic processing time from months to weeks, accelerating decision-making and production start-up,” he added.
Responding to calls for regulatory clarity, Commission Secretary and Legal Adviser at NUPRC, Olayemi Adeboyejo, said the regulator is committed to transparency and adaptability.
Adeboyejo said, “Regulation is the architecture of efficiency. The PIA provides a framework for investor confidence, and we remain open to feedback to ensure clarity and competitiveness.”
Esso reaffirmed its commitment to partnership, innovation, and workforce development as critical drivers of Nigeria’s energy future.
