The new leadership of the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has pledged its commitment to work with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to achieve the nation’s ambitious target of producing 3 million barrels of oil per day by 2030.
This promise of a new era of industrial harmony was made on Wednesday, August 26, 2026, during a courtesy visit by the union’s executive team to the NUPRC corporate headquarters in Abuja.
Comrade Bosun Olabiyi-Agoro, the newly inaugurated President of PENGASSAN, emphasised that the union is fully aligned with the administration’s economic vision.
According to a statement by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head, Media and Corporate Communications, NUPRC, the new PENGASSAN president noted that achieving the production goal is a collective national duty that transcends regulatory and labour boundaries.
“The President of Nigeria has an ambition which he runs through the CCE which is to make sure that by 2030 we are able to produce 3 million barrels per day,” Olabiyi-Agoro stated during the visit.
“All of us have to work to make that happen. It will be our happiness to make sure that that target is actually attained,” he added.
He assured the commission of the union’s readiness to foster a constructive relationship, adding, “We can assure you that we are here to collaborate. We will be very reasonable.”
However, the PENGASSAN President struck a firm note regarding workers’ rights, clarifying that while the union is open to dialogue, specific issues are non-negotiable.
He highlighted the rights of workers to freely associate and join the union, as well as the contentious matter of contract staffing, as key priorities that his administration will address during his tenure.
READ ALSO:
- PENGASSAN Orders Shutdown of Crude, Gas Supply to Dangote Refinery
- PENGASSAN Kicks Against Tinubu’s Executive Order on Direct Remittance of Oil Revenue
- Nigeria’s 3m bpd Oil Goal: Will New Block Licensing Deliver?
- Oil Workers Resume as Unions Call Off Strike – NUPRC
- NUPRC Issues Payment Deadline to 31 Winners of 37 Oil Blocks
Responding to the overture, the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, welcomed the union’s commitment, describing industrial stability as the bedrock upon which production targets must be built.
Mrs. Eyesan provided a snapshot of the nation’s progress, revealing that production has recovered significantly from a low of 1.1 million barrels per day a few years ago to an estimated 1.755 million barrels per day in 2026.
She attributed this growth to the proactive policies of the President Bola Tinubu-led Federal Government, including recent executive orders specifically designed to stimulate deep offshore investments.
“As you settle into your new role, be assured that the commission will give you 150% cooperation,” Eyesan told the visiting union leaders.
“In addition to the support we will give you, we want to ask that we work very closely to actualize government objectives.”
She laid out the commission’s roadmap, stressing that oil production is not the only focus.
“We want to grow production from our current level to 3 million barrels in 2030. For gas, we are still doing under 8 billion cubic feet (bcf) and we want to grow that to 12 bcf by 2030,” she said. “So, let’s make that happen.”
The meeting signals a positive shift in the relationship between the regulator and the labour union, setting the stage for the operational stability required to unlock the country’s vast hydrocarbon potential.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X