Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector recorded a major breakthrough on December 1, 2025, after NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), the flagship upstream subsidiary of NNPC Limited, achieved a record 355,000 barrels of oil per day, the highest daily output the country has witnessed since 1989.
The milestone has been described as a defining moment for Nigeria’s energy recovery efforts and a strong signal that long-sought production targets may finally be within reach.
Reacting to the development, the Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the milestone as proof that years of reforms and operational restructuring are beginning to yield measurable dividends.
“Nigeria’s energy revival is not a dream; it is already happening,” he stated. He emphasized that the feat shows NEPL’s ability to exceed its own benchmarks, signalling that the core structures needed to scale national oil production, technology, processes, human capacity and partnerships are moving in the right direction.
Ojulari added that the achievement reinforces confidence among global energy investors who have long questioned Nigeria’s ability to sustain stable production.
The milestone, he said, sends a strong message that the country is committed to reaffirming its role as a dependable supplier in global markets.
Turning Point for Nigeria’s Upstream Sector
The achievement comes after years of production volatility, operational disruptions and chronic underperformance across the upstream industry.
NEPL’s latest production level, officials say, is the result of a deliberate turnaround strategy anchored on efficiency, discipline, and systematic asset development.
Average production has risen sharply over the last two years, from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 in 2025, representing a remarkable 52% increase.
For an industry accustomed to fluctuations driven by vandalism, underinvestment and technical bottlenecks, the figures mark a genuine transformation.
According to NEPL, this growth is not a fortunate coincidence but the direct outcome of structured execution. The company’s results have strengthened confidence within and outside the sector that Nigeria’s upstream revival is both achievable and underway.
Responsible Growth, Not Just Higher Barrels
For Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President for Upstream, the milestone is not simply about reaching 355,000 barrels per day. He stressed that the accomplishment demonstrates a critical shift toward responsible operations.
“In a sector where shortcuts can yield short-term wins but long-term damage, NEPL is making a different point: sustainable progress must rest on responsible operations.”
Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President for Upstream
He explained that NEPL’s approach ensures that production scaling does not compromise worker safety, community welfare or environmental obligations, standards expected of any modern, globally relevant energy company.
Ntia noted that this disciplined model of growth positions NEPL as a leader in operational integrity, setting a benchmark for other players eager to align with global ESG expectations.
Managing Director of NEPL, Nicolas Foucart, also linked the record performance to broader institutional reforms taking place across NNPC Limited. He praised the alignment between leadership vision, improved operational systems, and a highly committed workforce.
“This is a story shaped by leadership that charts a clear course; by partnerships built on alignment and accountability; and by a workforce whose hard work is turning goals into measurable progress.”
Nicolas Foucart, Managing Director of NEPL
Foucart emphasized that the accomplishment is not merely about achieving bigger output numbers. “We are building for tomorrow, not just celebrating today,” he noted, adding that NEPL’s progress will translate into higher national revenues, improved energy security and a more resilient economic base.
He stressed that the company’s growth has rekindled national confidence in what Nigeria’s energy sector can achieve when systems, culture and execution discipline are properly aligned.
Implications for National Targets
The record output provides renewed momentum toward the federal government’s long-term production goals. Nigeria aims to reach 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day by 2030, targets that have previously seemed distant amid persistent production decline.
NEPL’s latest performance, however, suggests that with sustained investment, operational discipline and security improvements, those targets are increasingly realistic.
NNPC E&P Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, remains at the core of the country’s upstream expansion agenda, responsible for exploration and production of oil and gas resources across multiple basins.
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