CEGA Commends Approval of 37 New Crude Oil Routes, Applauds NUPRC’s Fight Against Oil Theft

As part of a larger plan to reduce oil theft, increase transparency, and boost Nigeria’s oil production, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has received praise from the Centre for Energy Governance and Accountability (CEGA) for obtaining federal government approval of 37 new crude oil evacuation routes.

At the 2025 Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week in Abuja, NUPRC CEO Gbenga Komolafe unveiled the new routes and gave an update on sector-wide changes aimed at repositioning Nigeria’s upstream industry for resilience and global competitiveness on Tuesday.

According to him, the commission’s cooperation with security services and the military has also contributed to the defense of vital oil infrastructure.

In a statement released on Sunday, CEGA hailed Komolafe for “converting policy into quantifiable results” and called the accomplishment “a major milestone” in Nigeria’s decades-long battle with oil theft and revenue losses.

“The authorization of 37 additional evacuation routes is a strategic intervention in an industry that loses billions of dollars every year, not merely a bureaucratic tweak. “This action demonstrates a commitment to sealing leaks and regaining investor trust,” stated Dr. Kelvin Sotonye Williams, CEGA’s executive director.

According to Dr. Williams, Komolafe’s leadership at NUPRC has contributed to the stabilization of a regulatory environment that had been beset by opacity and ambiguity prior to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) being passed in 2021.

He said that the $16 billion in investment promises made during the Tinubu administration in just two years already showed the results.

“These are not commitments on paper. According to Williams, “clear vision, consistent regulations, and aggressive digitization are driving these real inflows.”

Aiming to increase daily output from the present 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2.5 million bpd by 2026, he also commended the commission’s One Million Barrels Initiative. Launched in 2024, the strategy is bringing dormant fields back to life, expediting project approvals, and removing bottlenecks in the upstream licensing regime, according to Komolafe.

In an era where global upstream investment must exceed $640 billion yearly to satisfy demand predictions through 2030, CEGA asserts that increasing output is the most obvious path to energy security and economic independence.

“Komolafe is right to caution that the stability of the world and the region will be threatened if supply is not invested in. According to the CEGA executive director, Nigeria’s oil reserves are a strategic asset that should be managed to their full potential rather than being underutilized.

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Additionally, he emphasized that obtaining the social license to operate in volatile oil-producing regions is largely dependent on the commission’s HostComply effort, which guarantees real-time compliance with host community requirements under the PIA.

“Rhetoric cannot maintain peace. In order to foster trust in the Niger Delta, the HostComply platform makes social responsibilities quantifiable and verifiable, according to Dr. Williams.

He continued by saying that NUPRC’s incorporation of environmental accountability into its upstream policy, such as its support for Nigeria’s 2060 net-zero aim, was especially encouraging to CEGA.

Making the switch to renewable energy does not entail giving up on petrol and oil. It entails reinvesting in long-term energy security and producing in a greener, more responsible manner. This balance is reflected in the commission’s reforms,” he stated.

All parties involved, including state-owned and private operators, were urged by CEGA to support the commission’s purpose and pledge to conduct business in an ethical and climate-conscious manner.

The NUPRC is obviously unhappy with the current situation, especially with Komolafe in charge. They are striving for transformation rather than just survival,” Williams stated.

By shielding the regulatory area from political meddling and making sure that executive orders—like those pertaining to local content and cost-efficiency—are regularly implemented, the group urged the federal government to continue supporting the reforms.

According to CEGA, “the Nigerian upstream sector will not only recover, but it will lead Africa’s next wave of responsible fossil fuel development as long as this reform momentum is sustained.”