Nigeria Boosts Oil Exports with $400m Indigenous Otakikpo Terminal — First Onshore Facility in 50 Years
Nigeria has further strengthened its oil export capacity with the commissioning of the $400 million Otakikpo Oil Export Terminal in Rivers State — the country’s first onshore oil export terminal in five decades.
Strategic Location and Capacity
Located in Ikuru Town, Andoni Local Government Area, the terminal boasts a capacity of 365,000 barrels per day and was officially inaugurated by President Bola Tinubu, who was represented by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri.
Tinubu described the project as a critical milestone that aligns with his administration’s Presidential Directives 40 and 41, which aim to increase production, enhance export infrastructure, and promote indigenous participation in the oil sector.
“The terminal will unlock billions of barrels of reserves and create immense value for the Nigerian economy,” Tinubu said.
A 100% Nigerian-Built Facility
Professor Anthony Adegbulugbe, Chairman and CEO of Green Energy International Limited (GEIL) — the terminal’s developer — revealed that the project was conceived, designed, and executed entirely by Nigerian professionals, completed ahead of schedule within two years.
The facility currently has a storage capacity of 750,000 barrels, expandable to three million barrels, and a pumping capacity of 360,000 barrels per day. Since its June 2025 operational kickoff, it has already exported over one million barrels of crude oil.
Unlocking Stranded Oil Fields
Adegbulugbe stated that the terminal has the potential to unlock more than 40 stranded oil fields in the region, estimated to hold over three billion barrels of reserves — potentially adding up to 200,000 barrels per day to national output.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, hailed the terminal as a landmark for Nigeria’s indigenous oil and gas industry, noting that it provides an alternative export hub, reduces dependence on aging infrastructure, and cuts transport costs for producers.
A Game-Changer for Nigeria’s Oil Sector
The Otakikpo Terminal is expected to play a pivotal role in enhancing export efficiency, boosting production, and driving economic value creation through local participation and reduced evacuation challenges — positioning it as a model for future indigenous-led oil infrastructure projects in Nigeria.
