By Mary Izuaka

 

The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has pledged to work closely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to help Nigeria ramp up crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day by 2030.

The commitment was made on Wednesday when the new leadership of the union, led by its President, Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, paid a courtesy visit to the corporate headquarters of the NUPRC in Abuja.

NUPRC Head, Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, disclosed this in a statement on Wednesday.

Mr Olabiyi-Agoro said the union recognises President Bola Tinubu’s production target and is ready to align with the government’s efforts to achieve it.

“The President of Nigeria has an ambition which he runs through the Chief Executive of the Commission, which is to make sure that by 2030 we can produce 3 million barrels per day.

“All of us have to work to make that happen. It will be our happiness to make sure that that target is actually attained. We can assure you that we are here to collaborate. We will be very reasonable,” he said.

He further stated that inasmuch as the union is open to negotiations, issues bordering on the rights of workers to freely associate and join the union are non-negotiable.

He said issues surrounding contract staffing will be one of the key issues his administration will address.

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In her remarks, the Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the President Bola Tinubu-led federal government had been working assiduously to increase production, as evidenced by the latest executive order which is targeted at deep offshore investments.

She noted that production had risen from a low of 1.1mmbopd a few years ago to an estimated 1.755mmbopd in 2026.

Mrs Eyesan, however, said industrial stability remains critical to hitting higher production targets.

“As you settle into your new role, be assured that the commission will give you 150 per cent cooperation. In addition to the support we will give you, we want to ask that we work very closely to actualise government objectives.

“We want to grow production from our current level to 3 million barrels in 2030. For gas, we are still doing under 8bcf, and we want to grow that to 12bcf by 2030. So, let’s make that happen,” she said.