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Nigeria Risks Oil Production Decline Without New Discoveries – NAPE

The Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE) has warned that Nigeria faces a potential decline in crude oil production if urgent exploration and new discoveries are not made. The association said that despite the country’s vast hydrocarbon potential, dwindling exploration activities and the aging nature of existing oil fields threaten future output.

Speaking at a pre-conference briefing in Lagos, NAPE President Abiodun Ogunjobi noted that the country’s reliance on mature oilfields and low investment in frontier exploration could reduce production capacity significantly within the next decade. He emphasized the need for fiscal incentives, policy stability, and technological innovation to attract investment and sustain production levels.

Ogunjobi also urged the government to prioritize exploration in inland basins such as the Benue Trough, Anambra Basin, and Chad Basin, which have shown positive geological prospects. He added that the upcoming NAPE Conference would provide a platform for stakeholders to address issues affecting exploration and propose sustainable solutions for the sector.

The warning comes amid Nigeria’s struggle to meet its OPEC quota of 1.8 million barrels per day, due to oil theft, aging infrastructure, and limited exploration. Experts say without new discoveries, Nigeria could lose its leading position in Africa’s oil market to emerging producers.