The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Dr. Emeka Vitalis Obi, has reiterated that the oil and gas sector remains the principal driver of Nigeria’s economy, contributing significantly to national revenue, even amidst the growing global momentum towards energy transition.
Dr. Obi made this assertion in Abuja, during his opening remarks at the 60th meeting of the Consultative Committee on Petroleum Statistics (CCPS), a two-day engagement organized by the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and hosted by the Petroleum Technology Development Fund (PTDF).
According to the Head, Press and Public Relations, Chris Ugwuegbulam on a statement on Thursday said that the PS emphasized the centrality of data in shaping decisions related to exploration, production, pricing, and the broader energy transition agenda.
“The need for dependable data to guide decisions in the sector cannot be overemphasized. Your role as a committee is vital, not only in bridging gaps within the data ecosystem but also in standardizing methodologies, validating sources, and fostering trust among both local and international stakeholders in the oil and gas industry.”
He lauded the committee’s continuous efforts across various agencies and parastatals in ensuring the production of accurate, timely, and credible data for national use. Dr. Obi encouraged members to approach their deliberations with purpose, share insights, and pursue actionable outcomes capable of advancing the sector.
“This is an opportunity to strengthen a data ecosystem we can all be proud of, one that upholds transparency, accountability, efficiency, and pragmatism,” he added.
Describing the meeting as both “strategic and deep,” the Permanent Secretary highlighted that the session was reviewing statistical data from all four quarters of 2024 and the first two quarters of 2025.
He noted that the CCPS provides a critical platform for inter-agency collaboration, harmonization of petroleum statistics, and alignment of data with national planning frameworks.
Dr. Obi further charged the committee to ensure timely analysis and reporting of data within each fiscal year to support evidence-based policy formulation and strategic benchmarking by government stakeholders.
He commended the active participation of key institutions represented at the meeting, including the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS), the Nigerian Customs Service (NCS), the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA), the Energy Commission of Nigeria (ECN), and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
In his welcome remarks, the Chairman of the CCPS and Director of Planning, Research and Statistics (PRS) at the Ministry of Petroleum Resources, Mr. Usman Abdulkadir, noted that the CCPS was initiated to drive the generation of petroleum-related data for policy planning, academic research, and economic forecasting.
Also speaking at the event, the Executive Secretary of PTDF, represented by the Deputy General Manager, Strategic Planning and Documentation, Mr. Muhammad Haruna, described the meeting as integral to strengthening the accuracy and quality of petroleum data in Nigeria.
He emphasized that reliable data remains essential for informed decision-making, effective policy development, and sustainable sectoral growth.