Crude oil production hits 1.71million bpd
By Damilare Adeleye
Nigeria has recorded the highest level of crude oil production in the last five years, rising to 1.71 million barrels per day between April 2025 and April 2026.
This was disclosed in the One-Year Mandate Report Summary, which was posted on X by the Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, Bayo Ojulari.
Similarly, the company’s upstream subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, also reported an all-time peak production of 565,000 barrels per day in December 2025.
On gas development, NNPC completed the River Niger crossing of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline and welded the entire line in July 2025.
The Assa North-Ohaji South gas processing plant and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben pipeline connection have also been commissioned. Gas supply was sustained at 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day in 2025, with new supply agreements executed with Dangote Cement, Dangote Refinery, and CNG Ibese.
The company launched its Gas Master Plan in January 2026 and signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding with China Gas Holding Ltd and Peiyang Chemical Singapore to unlock Nigeria’s gas resources.
NNPC also confirmed a 7.25 per cent equity stake in the Dangote Refinery, stating the move is aimed at protecting national interest. It reportedly adopted an incorporated joint venture model for its refineries, enabling each facility to self-finance and operate independently.
The national oil firm further announced new shipping partnerships with Stena Bulk and Sonangol. It has exported a new crude grade, Cawthorne, and expanded its Oleum lubricant brand across West Africa.
On internal reforms, the company onboarded 1,000 new employees, introduced a new performance management system, and launched the Women in NNPC programme to strengthen inclusion.
The company has reinstated monthly performance reporting and held its first earnings call in November 2025. It has resumed consistent remittances to the federation account since July 2025.
The report further noted that NNPC secured presidential approval for incentives to advance the final investment decision on the Bonga South-West Aparo project.
It also executed a model production sharing contract for PPL 2000 and 2001. This marks the first contract to include comprehensive terms for developing deepwater non-associated gas resources.
In addition, a resolution has been reached on the long-standing OPL 245 dispute. The settlement resulted in the conversion of the block into a new production sharing contract covering PMLs 102 and 103, and PPLs 2011 and 2012.
Reacting to the report, Ojulari described the achievement as statement of accountability, saying that NNPC Limited remains “committed to leading with purpose, putting our best foot forward to build a more prosperous and sustainable energy future for our country.”