NNPC Oil output Surges to Record 355,000 bpd as Energy Reset Gains Momentum – Ojulari
Nigeria’s long-anticipated upstream revival is no longer theoretical—it is now unfolding in real time. According to a statement made available to the media, on December 1, 2025, NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), the flagship upstream subsidiary of NNPC Limited, delivered a landmark 355,000 barrels per day, the company’s highest recorded daily production in over three decades.
The achievement is more than a data point; it is proof of system-wide renewal across Nigeria’s upstream value chain—a validation of tighter discipline, structured field development, and a governance model increasingly aligned with commercial performance.
Between 2023 and 2025, NEPL’s average output expanded by 52%, rising from 203,000 bpd to 312,000 bpd before hitting the 355,000 bpd peak. For an industry long constrained by under-investment, asset vandalism, evacuation challenges, and governance bottlenecks, this is a structural shift, not a temporary spike.
A Milestone with National Consequences
This production surge carries strategic implications:
- Presidential Output Targets Gain Credibility
Nigeria’s ambition to hit 2 million bpd by 2027 and 3 million bpd by 2030 has often been dismissed as overly optimistic. NEPL’s new benchmark changes the conversation. Momentum is now measurable. - Investor Confidence Receives a Boost
Consistency in upstream output reinforces Nigeria’s dependability in global energy markets, a critical advantage in a geopolitical environment seeking supply stability. - Operational Excellence Becomes the New Standard
The transformation reflects improvements not only in output but in asset management discipline, contractor performance, community engagement, and environmental stewardship.
Ojulari: “Nigeria’s Energy Revival Is Already Happening”
Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, Group CEO of NNPC Limited, described the milestone as evidence of real, undeniable progress in a sector often characterized by volatility.
He noted that NEPL’s performance proves that Nigeria’s upstream machinery—technology, processes, human capital, partnerships—can deliver outcomes guided by commercial logic and global best practice.
“This achievement shows the essential building blocks for scaling national output are firmly in place. Nigeria’s energy revival is not a dream; it is already happening,” he said.
Sustainability, Not Just Barrels
Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, emphasised that the milestone represents a shift from volume-driven extraction to sustainable upstream discipline.
“Shortcuts may produce short-term gains but long-term damage. NEPL is proving that responsible, well-governed operations can scale without compromising safety, communities, or environmental integrity,” he said.
In an era where ESG considerations dominate global capital flows, NEPL’s approach signals a strategic alignment with the future of energy investment.
Foucart: “This Is a Story of Leadership, Processes, and People”
Managing Director of NEPL, Nicolas Foucart, described the accomplishment as part of a broader cultural and institutional reset within NNPC Limited.
“Our people, our processes, and our principles are the real engines behind this success. We are not just celebrating barrels—we are building for tomorrow,” he noted.
For Nigerians, the benefits are tangible:
- Increased government revenue
- Enhanced energy security
- Stronger macroeconomic resilience
- Renewed confidence in a historically underperforming sector
BRANDECONOMY Insight
NEPL’s record-setting 355,000 bpd is arguably the most consequential energy milestone of the decade for Nigeria. It signals three pivotal shifts:
- Operational Credibility Is Returning
Nigeria’s upstream sector has battled scepticism for years. This achievement rebuilds investor trust and demonstrates that performance-based leadership is finally taking root. - NNPC’s Commercialisation Strategy Is Working
The current transformation—corporatisation, asset optimisation, JV restructuring, and fiscal reforms—is yielding measurable results. NEPL is now emerging as a competitive national oil company in a rapidly changing global energy environment. - Nigeria’s Long-Term Output Goals Are No Longer Aspirational
With renewed discipline, improved evacuation infrastructure, and ongoing deepwater reforms, Nigeria is positioned for a medium-term production renaissance—if momentum is sustained.
NEPL has rekindled belief in what the upstream sector can achieve when governance, capacity, and vision align. The coming years will test whether this breakthrough becomes a durable trajectory.
