The President of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), Johnbosco Uche, has emphasized the need for renewed investment, deliberate policy alignment, and intensified exploration activities to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security and achieve sustainable growth in the petroleum sector.
Speaking at a media parley in Lagos ahead of the Association’s 43rd Annual International Conference and Exhibition, scheduled to hold from November 9–13, 2025, at the Eko Hotel and Suites, Uche said the upcoming conference would serve as a strategic platform to chart the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The conference, themed “Revitalizing the Nigerian Petroleum Exploration and Production Strategies for Energy Security and Sustainable Development,” will gather key players from government, industry, and academia to deliberate on the challenges and opportunities facing the energy sector.
According to the NAPE President, Nigeria’s petroleum industry stands at a critical crossroads as the world accelerates its transition toward low-carbon energy systems. He stressed that the country must balance sustaining hydrocarbon production with preparing for a diversified and sustainable energy future.
“Nigeria cannot industrialize or grow sustainably without reliable and affordable energy,” Uche said. “To achieve this, there is an urgent need to reignite exploration in mature basins, refocus exploration strategies, and strengthen collaboration between government and industry to meet the nation’s energy and economic goals.”
Uche outlined several key priorities that would dominate discussions at the conference, including:
- Reigniting mature basin exploration through a review of exploration well classification to attract new investments.
- Refocusing exploration strategies for both international oil companies (IOCs) and indigenous independents to ensure new discoveries that will sustain production.
- Increasing oil and gas production capacity through optimized field development, adoption of new technologies, and addressing delays in project delivery — all geared toward achieving Nigeria’s 2030 target of 3 million barrels of oil per day and 12 billion cubic feet of gas per day.
- Accelerating gas development as a transition fuel to power industries, drive manufacturing, and enhance national economic growth.
- Driving new seismic data acquisition and geoscience research to unlock fresh discoveries and reduce exploration risks.
- Promoting collaboration between government, industry, and academia to build technical capacity, foster innovation, and ensure sustainable resource management.
The NAPE President said the association has, over the years, provided a credible platform for thought leadership, technical excellence, and policy advocacy within Nigeria’s upstream sector. He reaffirmed NAPE’s commitment to supporting national efforts aimed at ensuring energy availability, stability, and affordability amid global uncertainties.
The 43rd Annual Conference, he added, will feature executive, management, and technical sessions, an opening ceremony and all-convention luncheon, as well as the President’s Night and Awards Night to celebrate professional excellence and contributions to the industry.
Uche described the 2025 conference as coming at a pivotal moment for Nigeria’s economic and energy future, noting that decisions taken today will determine how effectively the country secures its energy independence in the years ahead.
“As we strive for economic stability and energy independence, our actions today must secure the energy of tomorrow,” he stated. “NAPE remains committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure Nigeria’s petroleum industry continues to serve as a catalyst for national development and sustainability.”
The NAPE President also commended members of the media for their sustained partnership with the Association, noting that their role in amplifying Nigeria’s energy conversation is invaluable.
“Together, let us continue to ensure that our ideas continue to find oil and gas,” he concluded.
The NAPE conference, which is expected to attract thousands of delegates from across Nigeria and abroad, will explore emerging technologies, new frontiers for oil and gas exploration, and strategies to strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness in a changing global energy landscape.
