The Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s upstream subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, has reached a milestone by recording its highest daily crude oil output in more than three decades. On 1 December 2025, the company produced 355,000 barrels per day, surpassing the previous record set in 1989. This achievement reflects a substantial rise in average daily production, which has increased by 52 % over two years—from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025.
In a statement, Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Limited, attributed the improved performance to stronger operational systems, disciplined asset management, and structured field development. Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari described the result as evidence that Nigeria’s energy revival is underway, noting that the essential building blocks needed to scale national output are being established.
The milestone signals renewed momentum in Nigeria’s upstream recovery and bolsters investor confidence in the country’s oil industry. In recent years, the sector has struggled with pipeline vandalism, crude theft, and underinvestment, often causing output to fall below OPEC quotas. Reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act and the unbundling of NNPC into a commercial entity aim to reverse this decline.
NNPC’s commitment to sustainable and responsible operations ensures that higher output does not compromise worker safety, environmental protection, or community relations. Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, emphasized that the achievement represents more than a production figure; it demonstrates the company’s dedication to responsible, sustainable practices and contributes to stabilizing national output while rebuilding investor confidence.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has set ambitious production targets of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030—goals previously viewed as optimistic. The recent performance of NNPC E&P Limited suggests these targets may be more attainable, positioning the company to play a key role in driving Nigeria’s oil industry revival.
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