The upstream subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, has reached its highest daily crude oil production level in over three decades, achieving 355,000 barrels per day (bpd) on December 1, 2025.
This remarkable milestone, announced in a statement on Tuesday by NNPC Limited’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, marks the company’s highest output since 1989 and indicates a positive trajectory in Nigeria’s upstream recovery efforts.
According to the statement, NNPC E&P Limited has seen its average daily production rise by 52 percent over the past two years, increasing from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025. This growth has been attributed to improved operational systems, disciplined asset management, and structured field development strategies.
“On December 1, 2025, NNPC E&P Limited achieved a record-breaking production level of 355,000 barrels of oil per day, the highest since 1989.
“This achievement signifies a crucial advancement for Nigeria’s upstream sector and reflects the company’s ongoing transformation focused on efficiency and discipline.
“The statistics highlight a genuine transformation, with average daily production escalating by 52 percent from 203,000 bpd in 2023 to 312,000 bpd in 2025.
“This impressive growth is a result of a clear strategy centered on operational excellence, robust asset management, and structured field development,” the statement indicated.
Bayo Ojulari, Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, remarked that this accomplishment showcases that Nigeria’s energy revival is “not a dream but already taking place.”
He noted that by surpassing its production benchmarks, NNPC E&P has demonstrated that the crucial components necessary for scaling national output are being put in place.
“By consistently exceeding its production goals, NNPC E&P validates that the foundational elements for increasing national output are firmly established.
“This achievement indicates that production processes, equipment, capabilities, and partnerships can be managed with commercial discipline to generate tangible outcomes.
“It translates national ambitions into measurable progress. The presidential targets of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030, which were once deemed aspirational, are now much closer to becoming a reality,” he added.
This accomplishment enhances investor confidence and assures global partners about Nigeria’s commitment to restoring its status as a reliable crude oil supplier.
Udy Ntia, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, emphasized that this milestone represents more than just a production figure, asserting that NNPC E&P’s growth is built on responsible and sustainable practices.
“In a sector where shortcuts can lead to immediate gains but long-term consequences, NNPC E&P is demonstrating a different approach: sustainable progress relies on responsible operations.
“This ensures that increasing production does not compromise worker safety, community well-being, or environmental protection,” Ntia stated.
He highlighted that the company’s operational approach guarantees that higher output will not undermine worker safety, environmental safeguards, or community relations.
Nigeria’s crude oil sector has faced significant challenges over the past decade, with production often falling below OPEC quotas due to issues such as pipeline vandalism, crude theft, underinvestment, deferred maintenance, and the declining performance of aging fields.
From 2021 to 2023, production significantly decreased, raising concerns about revenue losses and the industry’s long-term sustainability.
Reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, the restructuring of NNPC into a commercial entity, and renewed upstream initiatives aim to reverse this downward trend.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has set ambitious targets of achieving two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030—goals that many in the industry previously viewed as optimistic.
NNPC E&P Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary responsible for various joint venture and production-sharing assets, has been positioned as a vital player in this revival.
The company has adopted field optimization strategies, enhanced contractor relationships, reinforced governance structures, and improved previously underperforming assets.
The recent achievement of 355,000 bpd—the highest output since 1989—marks a pivotal step toward stabilizing national production and restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil industry.
NNPC E&P ACHIEVES 355,000 BPD, HIGHEST PRODUCTION RATE IN 36 YEARS
