Tinubu Orders Reactivation of Dormant Oil Fields to Boost Nigeria’s Production

 President Bola Tinubu, on July 1, 2025, directed the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to reactivate 50 dormant oil fields to boost Nigeria’s crude oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027. 

The order, issued during a National Energy Council meeting, targets fields with a combined 500 million barrels in reserves, dormant due to vandalism and underinvestment costing Nigeria $5 billion annually. NNPCL Group CEO Bayo Ojulari confirmed plans to partner with Shell and ExxonMobil, investing $2 billion to restore fields in the Niger Delta, contributing 20% to Nigeria’s $50 billion oil revenue.

The initiative aligns with Tinubu’s Decade of Gas policy, leveraging Nigeria’s 209 trillion cubic feet of gas reserves to address a 12,000 MW power deficit. The reactivation, expected to create 10,000 jobs, faces challenges from 30% pipeline losses and community unrest, with 1,000 protests in Delta State in 2024. 

The government allocated N500 billion for security and infrastructure upgrades, aiming for a 15% production hike by Q4 2026. Critics, including environmental groups, warn of ecological risks, citing a 2011 Bonga spill of 40,000 barrels, but supporters project a 5% GDP boost.