The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reached a major milestone in crude oil production when its upstream subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), recorded a daily output of 355,000 barrels on 1 December 2025. This figure represents the highest daily production in 36 years and contributes to a 52 % rise in average daily output, increasing from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025.
The Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry (CCSTEI) praised NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, for this achievement, attributing it to bold reforms that have improved transparency, operational efficiency, and crude oil production. Since Ojulari assumed leadership in April 2025, NNPCL has become a more commercially driven and accountable entity, regularly publishing monthly performance reports that enable real‑time stakeholder oversight.
The company’s audited 2024 results also reflected strong financial performance, with record revenue of 45.1 trillion naira and a profit after tax of 5.4 trillion naira—a 64 % year‑on‑year increase in profit. NNPCL is simultaneously investing in gas infrastructure, including projects such as the Ajaokuta‑Kaduna‑Kano pipeline, the Escravos‑Lagos Pipeline System, and the Obiafu‑Obrikom‑Oben pipeline, aiming to reach production targets of 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion cubic feet per day by 2030.
Despite challenges like oil theft, the global energy transition, and lingering public skepticism, CCSTEI called for continued support of Ojulari’s leadership. The civic group recommended further improvements in public engagement, third‑party audits, anti‑corruption measures, local‑content development, and alignment with energy‑transition goals. CCSTEI noted that Ojulari and his team are restoring confidence in NNPCL after difficult years, and with sustained resolve the company can drive economic prosperity and become a beacon of transparent governance in Africa.
The achievement marks a significant step forward for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, and NNPCL’s commitment to transparency and accountability is expected to positively impact the country’s economy.
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