Stakeholders in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have called for stronger alignment of digital technology, investment, and policy reforms to achieve the country’s 3 million barrels per day production target by 2030.

This position was made at the 26th Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum in Abuja, where regulators and operators stressed the need for coordinated action across the value chain.

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said recent reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act have helped unlock investments and restore confidence in the sector.

She highlighted major projects such as Bonga North, Ubeta, and HI, which are expected to attract over $10 billion in investment through final investment decisions.

Eyesan added that digital tools like predictive maintenance, digital twins, and real-time analytics are now central to improving efficiency, reducing downtime, and boosting production.

She also noted that the regulator is moving toward a digital-first system for approvals and compliance to improve transparency and speed.

The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Saidu Mohammed, called for large-scale “big ticket” projects to drive rapid production growth.

He also announced plans for Project NEXUS, aimed at improving regulatory efficiency and supporting sustainable energy development.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Bayo Ojulari, said the company will intensify adoption of artificial intelligence and digital systems across operations.

He warned that future budgets from partners would be assessed based on their investment in digital technology and data-driven solutions.

Ojulari also stressed the importance of unlocking Nigeria’s vast historical oil data to improve decision-making and production efficiency.

Industry operators, including Seplat Energy, said achieving the target will require massive capital investment alongside improvements in existing oilfields to offset natural production decline.