NUPRC officially declares 37.01bn barrels of oil, 215.19 TCF of gas as national reserves as at January 1, 2026

In line with its statutory responsibilities, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) remains focused on strengthening upstream sector performance, boosting oil and gas reserve expansion, and maintaining steady production levels for collective economic benefit.

This is being driven through full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, alongside execution of the Commission’s core strategic priorities.

In a statement signed by its Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the Commission said Nigeria’s total oil and condensate reserves stood at 37.01 billion barrels, while total gas reserves rose to 215.19 trillion cubic feet.

Against this backdrop, the reserves as at January 1, 2026, are outlined as follows:

Proven and Probable (2P) crude oil and condensate reserves are estimated at 31.09 billion barrels and 5.92 billion barrels, respectively, bringing the combined total to 37.01 billion barrels.

Proven and Probable (2P) Associated Gas (AG) and Non-Associated Gas (NAG) reserves stand at 100.21 trillion cubic feet (TCF) and 114.98 TCF, respectively, culminating in total gas reserves of 215.19 TCF. The Reserves Life Index is 59 years for oil and 85 years for gas.

The marginal 0.74% variation in oil and condensate reserves as of January 1, 2026, is attributed to production activities recorded in 2025, as well as revisions from field performance assessments and technical evaluations informed by subsurface studies.

According to the press statement, the 2.21% increase in associated and non-associated gas reserves is largely due to updated reserve estimates driven by new discoveries and comprehensive reservoir analysis.

In accordance with Chapter 1, Part III, Section 7 (g), (i), (j), (k), (m), (q), and (r) of the PIA, along with other enabling powers, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, Commission Chief Executive, hereby formally declares a total oil and condensate reserve of 37.01 billion barrels and total gas reserves of 215.19 trillion cubic feet as the official National Petroleum Reserves Position as at January 1, 2026.

About The Author

Dele Fashomi

Dele Fashomi, seasoned journalist and communication teacher, is a holder of Master of Arts degree in Communication and Language Arts from the University of Ibadan in 1992/93.

Earlier, he had bagged a Bachelor degree from the same university in 1984, after which he proceeded to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos, in 1990, for a postgraduate diploma in Journalism.

He had done many courses in communication, including the EU-BBC Editing Course in 2002.

Mr. Fashomi combines effectively the practice, research and teaching of communication. And to date, he has published two academic works in communication: Issues in Communication Technology and Policy (2010) and Economic and Social Issues in Advertising and PR (2013).

He had his first break in the Nigerian media in Concord Newspapers in 1990 and today, he has over two and half decades experience earned in several newspapers.

He has been part of many start-ups, such as The Republic (1987), The Comet (1999), The Anchor 2001 – 2002; Sun Newspapers (2003); Westerner newsmagazine (2005 – 2010) as Editor; National Life (2011) as Sunday Editor, and Newswatch Newspapers (2012- 2016) as Daily Editor.

Dele Fashomi is now the Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Newstide247.com newspaper online, which he started in July 2015. He is also into biography writing, with many books in his trail, some of which he wrote alone and one he co- authored with his mentor, Mr Dare Babarinsa, entitled:  Olabiyi Durojaiye – DARE TO BE DiFFERENT. He also guided and collaborated with Pa Olatunji Odusanya in writing his autobiography – AGAINST ALL ODDS. There are many other books in the works under his pen.

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