The Federal Government of Nigeria has reaffirmed its commitment to unlocking inactive and untapped energy assets as a cornerstone of its strategy to boost national production and ensure energy security.
During a recent visit to TotalEnergies’ headquarters in Paris and its Research Institute in Pau, France, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Ph.D., declared: “Unlocking dormant fields is not optional—it is vital to our energy security and economic growth.”
According to a statement signed by Nneamaka Okafor, Special Adviser on Media and Communication to the Minister, the visit—conducted at the invitation of TotalEnergies—formed part of broader engagements with operators and policymakers. It coincides with the energy giant’s plan to reactivate several assets, including blocks awarded in the most recent bid round and previously held fields.
Senator Lokpobiri emphasized that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has issued a clear directive to industry stakeholders: “Mr. President has made it explicit—operators must reactivate dormant assets.”
As the policymaker and supervisor of regulatory bodies, the Ministry of Petroleum Resources is actively driving this national mission. The Minister added: “We are pursuing this with total commitment, and I am pleased to see TotalEnergies taking bold steps to unlock their inactive and untapped assets.”
At the Pau Research Institute, the Minister received a detailed briefing in the Smart Room and support centre, where cutting-edge exploration and monitoring technologies were showcased. Later, at the Paris headquarters, discussions centered on regulatory frameworks and operational support to facilitate the company’s reactivation of selected assets.
Nicolas Terraz, Group President of Exploration and Production at TotalEnergies, said: “We welcome Nigeria’s firm regulatory backing. Our commitment is to deploy our technical expertise and capital to restart production in these strategic assets. Our engagement today reflects a shared determination—boosting energy output for mutual benefit.”
The Federal Government remains resolute in ensuring that operators like TotalEnergies receive the necessary policy, financial, and technical support.
The revitalisation of inactive assets is central to Nigeria’s energy agenda, with the potential to promote job creation, increase revenue, and strengthen national energy sovereignty.
