• Approval times cut from weeks to hours for restarting inactive wells
• Move aims to quickly boost output using existing oil assets
• Policy aligns with broader push to enforce license use and raise production

Nigeria is fast-tracking approvals for oil producers to restart inactive wells, cutting processing times from several weeks to just a few hours, according to reports published on March 25 by Bloomberg.

These permits are issued by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the body overseeing upstream activities, according to officials familiar with the process.

The streamlined procedure targets areas where wells have already been drilled but remain idle or underused. It also applies to assets where part of the infrastructure is already in place, allowing operators to move quickly to resume production.

The goal is to bring previously drilled wells back online faster, as authorities look to unlock existing assets and increase national oil output.

Some operators have already begun moving in this direction. Local company Seplat Energy plans to reactivate 50 inactive wells in 2026, after restarting 49 wells last year linked to assets acquired from ExxonMobil.

A broader push to revive upstream activity

The faster permitting process is part of a wider set of measures introduced by Nigerian authorities to support oil operations. In a statement released earlier this month, the upstream regulator said “the era of dormant licenses is over,” referring to permits that have been awarded but not developed.

The regulator also pointed to provisions under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which require license holders to actively develop their assets. The policy reflects a broader effort to strengthen contractual discipline in the upstream sector and ensure that awarded assets contribute to national production.

In a separate statement issued in January 2026, the NUPRC outlined a strategy to improve the efficiency of upstream operations. The plan emphasizes faster execution of oil activities and greater transparency in handling operator submissions.

The regulator also highlighted the need for closer coordination between government agencies and oil companies, with the aim of making regulatory processes clearer and more responsive.

Speaking at the CERAWeek conference, which opened on March 23, NNPC Ltd CEO Bashir Bayo Ojulari said Nigeria could quickly increase its oil output by an additional 100,000 barrels per day in response to potential global supply tensions.

Abdel-Latif Boureima