Society of Petroleum Engineers Nigeria Council to Chart Path Beyond 3Million Barrels Per Day at OLEF 2026
☝️L – R: Member, Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council, Oladipo Ashafa; Chairperson, SPE-OLEF 2026, Priscilla Enwere; Chairman, SPE, Nigeria Council, Francis Nwaochei; Vice Chairman, SPE, Nigeria Council, Effa Agbor; Secretary, SPE Lagos, Hassannah Salami and Communication & Protocol Chairman, SPE Nigeria, Chima Okorie at the pre- press conference announcing the upcoming 2026 edition of the Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Oloibiri Lecture Series & Energy Forum (OLEF) held in Lagos recently…
…. we need to move beyond traditional production models and adopt technology-driven operations supported by disciplined capital investment and enabling policy frameworks – Nwaochei
By Emmanuel Oduara, Pan Afric Reporters
The Society of Petroleum Engineers (SPE) Nigeria Council has announced that the 2026 Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum (OLEF) will be held on April 9, 2026, at the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF) Tower, Abuja.
The high-level forum will convene regulators, operating companies, policymakers, investors, and industry professionals to deliberate on practical strategies for strengthening Nigeria’s energy sector and increasing crude oil production beyond the three million barrels per day benchmark.
Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, Engr. Francis Nwaochei, FNSE, Chairman of the SPE Nigeria Council, emphasized the need for Nigeria to move beyond traditional production models and adopt technology-driven operations supported by disciplined capital investment and enabling policy frameworks.
“Nigeria can reach and surpass three million barrels per day, but the era of easy production is over,” Nwaochei stated. “Future growth will depend on innovation, digitalization, efficient capital deployment, and a regulatory environment that supports intelligent operations and asset optimization.”
The theme of OLEF 2026 is: “Beyond the Three Million Barrels Target: Harmonizing Digitalization, Capital and Policy Frameworks for Intelligent Operations and Asset Optimization.”
The forum will focus on aligning technology, financing structures, and regulatory policy to unlock Nigeria’s full production potential while ensuring operational efficiency and long-term sustainability.
Despite recent improvements in output levels, Nigeria’s crude oil production remains below installed capacity, with implications for government revenue, foreign exchange stability, and overall economic confidence.
The SPE Nigeria Council noted that stronger production performance is critical to enhancing fiscal stability, accelerating domestic refining capacity, advancing gas development for power and industrial use, and reinforcing Nigeria’s position as a reliable global energy supplier.
Key discussions at OLEF 2026 will address strategies for maximizing existing assets through enhanced field management, revitalization of idle wellbores, and accelerated new field development. The forum will also explore mechanisms to strengthen indigenous operators through improved access to financing, technology partnerships, and digital transformation capabilities.
The Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum remains one of Nigeria’s foremost platforms for policy dialogue and industry thought leadership. Established in honor of Nigeria’s first commercial oil discovery in Oloibiri, Bayelsa State, the annual gathering continues to shape strategic conversations around the country’s energy future.
The 2026 edition is designed as a results-oriented working forum aimed at generating actionable recommendations to inform regulatory reforms, guide investment decisions, and support national energy planning objectives.
