By Olumide Adeluwoye 

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has called for increased exploration and production in the state’s oil and gas sector to unlock its hydrocarbon resources and attract fresh investments.

The Governor, who described Ondo as the fifth-largest oil-producing state in Nigeria, assured prospective investors of a safe, secure and conducive business environment.

Aiyedatiwa made the call on Monday at the 44th Annual International Conference and Exhibition of the Nigerian Association of Petroleum Explorationists (NAPE), held at Eko Hotels, Victoria Island, Lagos.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to attracting strategic investments, strengthening institutional collaboration and building mutually beneficial partnerships with reputable operators in the petroleum industry.

The Governor described the sector as critical to Nigeria’s economic growth and national development, noting that increased production, energy security and industrial competitiveness require renewed commitment to exploration, improved geological intelligence and technological innovation.

He urged investors to prioritise responsible oil and gas operations, stressing that the benefits of resource development must extend beyond production figures and government revenue to create jobs, empower communities and improve living standards.

Aiyedatiwa said his administration was prioritising development interventions in oil-producing communities, particularly in infrastructure, education, healthcare, youth empowerment and sustainable livelihoods.

He described host communities as indispensable partners in petroleum development, insisting that they deserved equitable access to opportunities and meaningful benefits from oil operations.

On indigenous capacity development, the Governor called for stronger collaboration among universities, research institutions, professional associations and indigenous service companies to position Nigerians for greater participation in the energy industry.

He also advocated knowledge transfer, applied research and technical training to equip young Nigerian geoscientists, engineers and other professionals with the expertise required to address emerging challenges in the sector.

The Governor further noted that the global transition towards cleaner energy must take into consideration the developmental needs, economic aspirations and energy requirements of emerging economies such as Nigeria.

Speaking at the conference, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, called for increased investment, collaboration and sustainable oil production to strengthen Nigeria’s position in the changing global energy landscape.

He urged industry stakeholders to support universities, practical engineering training and manpower development, noting that skilled professionals remained essential to sustainable exploration.

Similarly, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that Nigeria’s natural gas reserves stood at 215 trillion cubic feet as of January 1, 2026.

Ekpo, represented by the Ministry’s Director, Elisha Benjamin, described the conference theme as timely, saying the country’s gas reserves presented an opportunity to become a leading global supplier.

He identified increased investment in exploration, particularly non-associated gas, advanced seismic imaging and artificial intelligence as critical to unlocking the country’s gas potential.

In her presentation, the Special Adviser to the President on Energy (Oil and Gas), Olu A. Verheijen, stressed the need to dismantle barriers to Nigeria’s progress and create greater opportunities in the petroleum industry.

Earlier, NAPE President, Olajumoke Cecilia Ajayi, called for increased investment in Nigerian professionals and indigenous companies to strengthen the country’s capacity to tackle complex oil exploration challenges.

Ajayi, who is also the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of West African Exploration and Production Company, said discovering new oil reserves depended on geological expertise, investment, technology and human capacity development.

She emphasised the need to move local content from participation to capability, enabling Nigerian professionals and companies to handle increasingly complex technical, operational and commercial challenges.

Also speaking, the Country Manager of LMK-Halliburton Nigeria and Chairman of the Conference Planning Committee, Dr Anthony Ofoma, urged oil and gas professionals to embrace technological innovation, continuous learning and collaboration to unlock greater value from exploration.

The conference had as its theme, “Unlocking More Barrels: Driving Reserves Growth Through Exploration, Local Capability and Adaptive Technology.”