Nigeria records highest oil output since 1989, hits 355,000bpd – NEPL

GCEO NNPC Ltd, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari Photo: NNPCL

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The NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), the flagship upstream subsidiary of NNPC Ltd., has on December 1, 2025 achieved a record production level of 355,000 barrels of oil per day (bpd).

According to the company, the production was the highest daily output since 1989.

The milestone marked a significant step forward for Nigeria’s upstream sector and reflected the company’s ongoing transformation anchored on efficiency and discipline.

Speaking on the development, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Ojulari, in a statement on Tuesday, said the milestone was proof that Nigeria’s energy revival was not a dream but a reality.

Ojulari said the figures showed genuine transformation, adding that average daily production surged by 52 per cent, rising from 203,000 bpd in 2023 to 312,000bpd in 2025.

“This record growth is no coincidence; it stems from a clear strategy anchored on operational excellence, strong asset management, and structured field development.

“NEPL’s performance demonstrates that with the right leadership, strengthened systems, and a committed workforce, Nigeria’s upstream sector can overcome years of instability.

“The achievement converts national ambition into measurable momentum.

“The presidential targets of two million bpd by 2027 and three million by 2030 have often appeared aspirational. NEPLs delivery brings them closer to reality.

“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 said.

The GCEO said the achievement signalled that the machinery of production equipment, processes, capabilities, and partnership could be driven with commercial discipline to produce real and positive outcomes.

He said that the achievement reinforced confidence nationally and across the global energy landscape, assuring partners and investors that Nigeria was committed to reaffirming its role as a dependable energy supplier.

Also speaking, Udy Ntia, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, observed that the milestone goes beyond the 355,000 bpd figure.

“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.

“This ensures that scaling production does not compromise worker safety, community wellbeing, or environmental protection,” Ntia added.

Nicolas Foucart, Managing Director, NEPL also said that NEPL’s record-setting performance showed the broader transformation unfolding across NNPC Limited.

“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.

“Our people, our processes, and principles are the real engines behind this success. We are building for tomorrow, not just celebrating today,” Foucart said.

NNPC E&P Limited is a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited involved in the exploration and production of oil and gas resources.

(NAN)

Tosin, with over six years' experience, conducts incisive interviews, pens engaging features, subedits and delivers impactful stories for the digital sphere.

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