Nigeria has officially commissioned the $400 million Otakikpo Oil Export Terminal in Rivers State, a move expected to significantly ease crude evacuation challenges and enhance the nation’s oil export capacity.
The new facility, located in Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area, has a processing capacity of 365,000 barrels per day (bpd) and marks Nigeria’s first onshore oil export terminal in five decades.
Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, described the project as a “landmark achievement” in Nigeria’s quest to strengthen its oil production and export infrastructure.
READ MORE: Nigeria’s Non-Interest Capital Market Hits ₦1.6 Trillion — SEC
He stated that the terminal would also provide an alternative evacuation route for crude from Ogoniland and neighboring oil fields, helping to decongest existing terminals and improve operational efficiency.
“This initiative aligns with our administration’s key goals — ramping up crude production, expanding export capacity, and promoting indigenous participation under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and Presidential Directives 40 and 41,” Tinubu said. “The Otakikpo Terminal will help unlock billions of barrels in reserves and contribute immensely to Nigeria’s economic growth.”
Fully Nigerian-Driven Project
Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) — the project’s developer — highlighted that the Otakikpo Terminal was conceptualized, designed, and executed entirely by Nigerian professionals.
According to him, the project was completed ahead of schedule within two years, reflecting the growing capacity of local players in Nigeria’s energy industry.
He explained that the terminal currently holds a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, with potential expansion to three million barrels, and a pumping capability of 360,000 bpd. Since operations commenced in June 2025, the facility has already exported over one million barrels of crude oil.
Professor Adegbulugbe noted that the project has the potential to revive more than 40 stranded oil fields in the Niger Delta region, with combined reserves of about three billion barrels, potentially adding 200,000 bpd to Nigeria’s total crude output.
A Breakthrough for Indigenous Operators
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, commended GEIL and its partners for delivering a project of such magnitude led by Nigerian expertise.
He emphasized that the Otakikpo Terminal represents a strategic breakthrough for indigenous companies, providing a cost-effective and efficient export solution that reduces reliance on aging offshore terminals.
“This terminal opens up new opportunities for smaller producers to access export routes, lower operational costs, and improve evacuation logistics,” Komolafe said. “It’s a game-changer that enhances Nigeria’s overall crude export efficiency.”
Strengthening Nigeria’s Oil Future
Industry analysts see the commissioning of the Otakikpo Terminal as a strong signal of Nigeria’s renewed commitment to energy self-sufficiency and infrastructure modernization. The project aligns with national efforts to restore crude production levels, increase government revenues, and attract new investments in the oil and gas sector.
As global demand for crude continues to evolve, the Otakikpo Terminal stands as a symbol of Nigeria’s resilience and local capacity, marking a new chapter in the country’s oil export story.
