By Francis Ajuonuma
Nigeria’s crude oil production has risen by 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), from 1.2 million to 1.8 million bpd, following reforms and improved investment conditions in the petroleum industry, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in the United Arab Emirates.
Speaking during a session titled “Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital,” Ojulari attributed the production increase to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), improved operating conditions and stronger collaboration with industry operators.
He said the company was working towards raising crude oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027 through improved maintenance of existing infrastructure, increased output from producing assets and the development of new projects.
“The figure of 1.8 million barrels per day is a stage in a journey towards our objective,” he said.
On domestic energy supply, the NNPC chief disclosed that more than 400 compressed natural gas (CNG) conversion centres had been established across the country.
He added that over 1,000 petroleum product distribution trucks had also been converted to run on CNG following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
Providing updates on gas infrastructure, Ojulari said the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline was completed in August, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline was expected to begin delivering gas to Abuja before the end of 2026.
He said NNPC was also pursuing an ambitious gas production expansion programme, projecting output of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (scf/d) by 2027 and 12 billion scf/d by 2030.
On investment, Ojulari revealed that commercial agreements covering approximately $20 billion had been concluded for major oil and gas developments.
The projects include TotalEnergies’ Ubeta development, Shell’s Bonga South-West project and Eni’s Zabazaba development.
He said the agreements reflected renewed investor interest in Nigeria’s petroleum industry and the potential of ongoing reforms to attract long-term energy capital.
Reaffirming NNPC’s commitment to transparency and performance, Ojulari said the company’s credibility would ultimately depend on measurable achievements rather than public declarations.
“Our track record will be judged by what is done and not by what is said,” he said.
