The Nigerian government has called on oil and gas industry players to implement better safety standards and sustainable practices to create a secure operating environment and boost energy resilience.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Dr. Heineken Lokpobiri, made this appeal during the opening of the fourth Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) Energy and Labour Summit in Abuja. The summit, themed “Building a Resilient Oil and Gas Sector in Nigeria: Advancing HSE, ESG, Investment, and Incremental Production,” focused on the critical role of health, safety, environment, and governance in industry growth.

Lokpobiri emphasized that Nigeria’s energy strategy is not just about energy security but also about reinforcing its role as a dependable regional supplier. He urged operators to invest in safer, more efficient infrastructure and fully integrate Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) principles into their operations.

“With more investment comes the capacity to upgrade infrastructure, adopt advanced technologies, and expand production. This is the virtuous cycle we are building, one in which PENGASSAN’s commitment to safety, sustainability, and ethics directly fuels national economic growth,” he stated.

The minister added that Nigeria has the capacity to significantly meet domestic fuel needs and supply products to the West African market.

Speaking at the event, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group CEO, Bayo Ojulari, lamented that despite vast reserves, Nigeria’s oil output remains below potential. He stressed the need for rigorous field development, enhanced security in the Niger Delta, reduced leakages, and unlocking stranded assets to achieve incremental production.

“Every barrel counts. Every molecule of gas counts. Incremental production will not come from one big move, but from many smart, coordinated actions across the value chain,” Ojulari said.

The NNPCL boss revealed that the company is implementing an energy transition roadmap to reduce carbon emissions, invest in gas as a transition fuel, and improve transparency.

PENGASSAN President, Festus Osifo, noted the recent increase in crude oil production, attributing it to effective regulatory measures, operator support, and a resilient workforce. He highlighted that ESG is now central to global industry practices, saying, “It is no longer a tick-box exercise but a lifeline to ethical progress.”