Experts, policy makers, regulatory bodies and other key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector have gathered to discuss new roadmap for the sector as NAICE 2026 annual conference officially opened in Lagos on Monday, 3rd August, 2026.
In his opening address to kick-start the 49th edition of NAICE 2026 conference , the chairman, society of petroleum engineers, Nigeria council, Francis Nwaochei said Nigeria’s energy sector is one that presents significant opportunities with potential to drive growth. Nwaochei who noted that these opportunities can only be harnessed through strategic partnerships, technology deployment and sustained investments said this year’s conference theme, “Thriving in the evolving global energy landscape: collaborative growth and resilience” reflects the urgent need for the industry to adapt to growing dynamics of changes within the global space.”We gather at a defining moment for the global energy industry, across the world, energy systems are being reshaped by the urgent need for energy security, affordability, sustainability, digital transformation, decarbonisation and responsible resource development” he said.
Nwaochei described NAICE as Africa’s foremost platforms for executive dialogue, policy engagement, investment promotion and professional development. He noted that the conference has remained the flagship technical event of the SPE Nigeria council for nearly five decades.”Nigeria energy future will be determined not only by the resources beneath our soul, but most importantly by how we develop technical solutions that solve our unique energy challenges ” he further declared.
Delivering her speech at the opening session, the commission chief executive, Nigerian upstream petroleum regulatory commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan who pushed for deeper collaboration and resilience in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector said collaboration remains at the heart of the commission’s regulatory approach as evidenced by the commission’s monthly engagements with industry leaders including extensive consultations in developing new regulations, guidelines and regulatory frameworks.”We firmly believe that resilient energy systems, sustained investment and long-term growth can only be achieved through strong partnerships” Eyesan said.
She added that around the world, the energy landscape is changing at an unprecedented pace in the face of geopolitical developments, climate considerations, technological disruptions, including growing energy demands which are now redefining how nations produce,transport and consume energy. Eyesan however noted that these changes also present tremendous opportunities for countries that are prepared to adapt, innovate and work together.
On his part, the authority chief executive, Nigerian midstream, and downstream petroleum regulatory authority, NMDPRA, Mallam Rabiu Umar who joined other stakeholders at the opening session of the NAICE conference reaffirmed the authority’s commitment to strengthening Nigeria’s energy security, accelerating gas utilisation and delivering efficient regulation as the country works towards to adapt to the evolving global energy landscape. Umar declared that the authority’s approach in achieving it’s set agenda would be guided by the principles of firmness, fairness while also ensuring compliance with the petroleum industry act, to foster the required enabling environment for investment.
The authority chief executive also highlighted Nigeria’s transformation into a regional refining hub through the growth of both large-scale and modular refineries. Umar said the NMDPRA remains committed to enforcing domestic crude oil supply obligations to guarantee feedstock availability for local refineries while also maintaining commercial balance across the value chain.
Like previous speakers, the authority chief executive of the NMDPRA also called for collaboration among regulators, operators, financiers and technology providers to build a resilient energy sector capable of meeting both domestic and regional demand.
Over fifteen thousand delegates would be putting heads together in the next three days to find lasting solutions to some of the challenges that have continued to slow growth in the sector in the last decades.
