Abuja: The Federal Government has tasked petroleum engineers and other industry professionals with supporting its drive to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to three million barrels per day (bpd) by 2030. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, conveyed this directive at the inauguration of the sixth National Chairman of the Nigerian Institution of Petroleum Engineers (NIPetE) and its Executive Committee in Abuja.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, the event, themed ‘Assets, Talent and Integrity: Engineering Nigeria’s 3 Million BPD Target’, also featured a public lecture and fellowship conferment ceremony. Lokpobiri, represented by his Technical Assistant, Business, Kroky Biowe, emphasized the administration of President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to achieving energy sufficiency by expanding oil production and developing necessary infrastructure.
The minister highlighted the importance of collaboration and urged industry professionals to contribute their knowledge
and experience to meet the production target. He emphasized the need for good subsurface and surface assets, talent, and integrity to achieve the country’s production aspiration, while noting the recent conclusion of a bid round by the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) that awarded 37 oil blocks to 31 companies.
He further described the project as a potential attractor of $15 billion to $21 billion in investment, with a projected peak production of 175,000 barrels of oil per day. The minister called for collaboration among newly inaugurated Fellows, the National Chairman, and Executive Committee members of NIPetE with stakeholders across the oil and gas value chain to provide technical support for achieving the government’s production target.
In addition, Lokpobiri commended the appointment of Dr. Yetunde Aladeitan as NIPetE National Chairman, recognizing it as a significant milestone. Aladeitan outlined her administration’s plans to reposition NIPetE as a catalyst for transforming Nigeria’s e
nergy sector, focusing on rebuilding the institution, strengthening stakeholder relationships, and enhancing professionalism over the next 18 months.
Aladeitan also announced initiatives such as establishing a policy advisory council, a formal mentorship and internship program, and a Diaspora Engineering Initiative to reconnect Nigerian engineers abroad with the domestic industry. The Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE), represented by Deputy President Valerie Agberagba, congratulated Aladeitan and emphasized the importance of professionalism and ethical practice in advancing the sector.
Joe Nwakwu, Caretaker Committee Chairman of NIPetE, noted the successful completion of the committee’s mandate, encouraging the new leadership to prioritize the institution’s interests and actively engage members to enhance NIPetE’s relevance to industry, government, academia, and society.