NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), the flagship exploration and production subsidiary of NNPC Limited, has announced a major milestone in its upstream operations, with production reaching 355,000 barrels per day (bpd) for the first time in more than three decades.
In a statement issued on Tuesday and obtained by Energy in Africa, the company confirmed that it achieved the record output on 1 December 2025.
The figure marks the company’s highest daily production since 1989 and underscores what executives describe as a transformation in Nigeria’s energy sector.
According to NNPC, average daily production has surged by 52% in just two years, rising from 203,000 bpd in 2023 to 312,000 bpd in 2025. Officials say the growth reflects operational discipline, stronger asset management, and structured field development.
Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, hailed the achievement as evidence that Nigeria’s energy revival is already underway.
“By showing its ability to exceed its own production benchmarks, NEPL confirms that the essential building blocks for scaling national output are being firmly established,” he said.
Nicolas Foucart, Managing Director of NEPL, added that the accomplishment reflects wider reforms across NNPC Limited.
“Our people, our processes, and principles are the real engines behind this success. For Nigerians, this translates into greater national revenue, stronger energy security, and a more resilient economic foundation,” he said.
Nigeria’s ambitious oil targets
The Nigerian government has set ambitious oil production targets of 2 million bpd by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030, backed by major investment plans and reforms in its energy sector.
Ojulari has outlined plans to attract $30 billion in investments by 2027 and $60 billion by 2030 to support these production goals. The investments are expected to fund upstream exploration, field development, and infrastructure upgrades, ensuring sustainable growth.
The targets are seen as a stabilisation point after years of underperformance caused by theft, pipeline vandalism, and underinvestment. Analysts have often questioned the feasibility of these goals, but NNPC insists the latest figures bring them closer to reality.
Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President for Upstream, emphasised that the achievement was not just about numbers.
“Sustainable progress must rest on responsible operations. This ensures that scaling production does not compromise worker safety, community wellbeing, or environmental protection,” he said.
NNPC E&P Limited, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, is responsible for the exploration and production of oil and gas resources across the country.
Despite missing the six-month deadline prescribed by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the company is pushing forward with plans for an initial public offering (IPO) in the near future.
Ojulari said NNPC is currently focused on improving transparency around its performance in preparation for that phase.
Transparency as a reform agenda
Since his appointment as head of NNPC in April 2025, Ojulari has pledged to deepen transparency and accountability across the company’s operations.
His early months in office were marked by commitments to publish clearer audit reports, strengthen corporate governance, and align NNPC’s practices with global standards.
His reforms have been publicly endorsed by the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), which noted that his leadership could set new benchmarks for governance in Africa’s extractive industries.
In his first 100 days, Ojulari was credited with breaking a “longstanding culture of opacity and inefficiency” within NNPC, laying the groundwork for accountability and operational efficiency.
He relaunched NNPC’s long-absent monthly report, now granting the public and prospective investors regular insights into the company’s operations.
The chief executive has also formed a rapid-response assessment team under NNPC’s Vice President for Downstream to evaluate plant conditions and operational readiness of state-owned refineries.
While working to bring the three moribund plants back online, NNPC has revealed plans to increase its stake in the Dangote Refinery from the current 7.2% to 20%.
