The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has expressed confidence that Nigeria can increase crude oil production to 1.9 million barrels per day (bpd), following recent gains that saw the country attain a peak production level of 1.86 million bpd in May.

The Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed this on Wednesday during a meeting with the Chairman of the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS), Dr. Zacch Adedeji, at the NRS headquarters in Abuja.

In a statement by the Commission, Eyesan said Nigeria’s oil industry has returned to a growth trajectory, noting that the country was steadily ramping up production despite persistent challenges.

“We are back to production. We are ramping up now, and we want to continue working,” she said.

According to her, addressing infrastructure deficits and improving asset integrity across the oil and gas sector would be critical to sustaining production growth.

“We still recognise the constraints. Infrastructure and asset integrity are major constraints, but we will work on these. Even the human capacity in the industry, we see that because if we want to grow, we must also grow that capacity to meet the demands,” Eyesan stated.

The NUPRC boss spoke during a meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the collection of revenues from the oil and gas sector.

She commended the leadership of the NRS for reforms that led to the enactment of the NRS Act and described the transition of revenue collection responsibilities under the new framework as seamless.

Eyesan stated that the Commission is determined to create an enabling environment for investors and operators in the petroleum industry.

The NUPRC boss spoke during a meeting aimed at strengthening collaboration between the Commission and the Nigeria Revenue Service to enhance transparency, accountability and efficiency in the collection of revenues from the oil and gas sector.

She commended the leadership of the NRS for reforms that led to the enactment of the NRS Act and described the transition of revenue collection responsibilities under the new framework as seamless.

Eyesan stated that the Commission is determined to create an enabling environment for investors and operators in the petroleum industry.

“We are here to enable them, enable their businesses, ensure that they survive, and that they succeed. And we want to grow the pie because when you grow the pie, everybody benefits,” she said. Eyesan further disclosed that one of the key priorities of the Commission since assuming office was the digitisation of its operations, adding that the objective has largely been achieved.

Responding, NRS Chairman, Dr. Zacch Adedeji, pledged continued collaboration with the Commission to support revenue growth and ensure transparency in the management of government earnings from the petroleum sector.

“It is in the interest of Nigeria that we work together to grow revenue for the country in a transparent manner for the good of Nigerians,” Adedeji said. (Vanguard)