NNPCL Hits 36-Year Production High Under Ojulari
Nigeria’s oil industry has recorded a rare but significant milestone as the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), through its upstream subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), achieved its highest crude oil production level in 36 years. The development marks a major turning point for a sector that has struggled for decades with declining output, operational inefficiencies, and investor skepticism.
The production peak, recorded on December 1, 2025, saw NEPL hit 355,000 barrels per day (bpd) — the highest level since 1989. Industry analysts say the achievement reflects the growing impact of the commercial mandate introduced under the leadership of Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, which has shifted NNPCL’s focus from legacy operational practices to performance-driven, business-oriented execution.
Across the sector, the average daily crude output rose sharply — from 203,000 bpd in 2023 to 312,000 bpd in 2025, eventually reaching the historic peak of 355,000 bpd. This represents an impressive 52% increase over two years.
In commenting on the achievement, Ojulari emphasized that this performance is not just about barrels produced but a validation of the commercial transformation underway at NNPCL.
“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 stated. “The machinery of production — equipment, processes, capabilities, and partnerships — can be driven with commercial discipline to produce real and positive outcomes.”
Strategic Shift from Legacy Challenges
For decades, Nigeria has stood as Africa’s top oil producer by reserves. Yet actual output often languished far below potential due to structural bottlenecks, crude theft, underinvestment, and governance challenges. The upstream sector’s performance became emblematic of broader issues within NNPCL and the country’s energy ecosystem.
Against this long history of underperformance, NEPL’s output surge points to more than a short-term spike: it demonstrates the potential for sustained improvement when commercial frameworks are diligently enforced. Key reforms have included:
- Strengthening asset management and field development planning.
- Embedding cost discipline across operations.
- Repositioning subsidiaries to operate under commercial principles aligned with shareholder expectations.
Implications for Nigeria’s Energy Roadmap
NEPL’s record output carries implications far beyond daily production statistics. It reinforces confidence in Nigeria’s broader energy goals, which include ambitious national targets of:
- 2 million bpd by 2027, and
- 3 million bpd by 2030.
While these targets were previously viewed with skepticism by analysts and investors, the recent performance injects tangible momentum into the narrative that Nigeria can realistically progress toward these benchmarks.
Conclusion: In the evolving story of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, NEPL’s 355,000 bpd milestone stands as a defining chapter — one that affirms a proven model of commercial discipline, leadership alignment, and operational excellence. Under Engr. Bashir Ojulari’s mandate, Nigeria’s energy revival is no longer just aspirational; it is clearly in motion, offering renewed hope for sustainable growth, investor confidence, and economic stability.
Comments