Reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry have increased crude oil production by 600,000 barrels to 1.8 million barrels per day, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has said, as it targets two million barrels per day by 2027.
Bashir Ojulari, group chief executive officer of NNPC Limited, said sustaining the increase would depend on protecting existing production, maintaining critical infrastructure and accelerating new projects.
“The figure of 1.8 million barrels per day is a stage in a journey towards our objective. We are concentrating on the basics, which are maintaining our infrastructure, protecting base operations and executing the projects that will take production higher,” Ojulari said in a note on Tuesday.
The remarks come from his participation at an energy discussion titled ‘Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital’ at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in the United Arab Emirates.
He attributed the production increase to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), improved investment conditions and stronger collaboration between NNPC and its industry partners.
The increase comes as Nigeria seeks to reverse years of declining crude oil production caused by oil theft, pipeline vandalism, underinvestment and operational disruptions.
NNPC is targeting $20 billion in investments through commercial agreements already concluded, Ojulari noted. He identified renewed interest from international oil companies as an opportunity to expand production and strengthen the country’s energy industry.
He said TotalEnergies’ Ubeta project, Shell’s Bonga South-West development and Eni’s Zabazaba project are examples of major upstream developments supporting renewed investor interest.
He said the company was engaging new partners, including the United Arab Emirates’ national oil company, ADNOC, and Chinese investors interested in Nigeria’s refineries.
He said NNPC was equally working with international oilfield service companies to improve technical and operational capacity needed to deliver projects and sustain production growth.
According to Ojulari, a baseline assessment of the company’s assets and infrastructure has helped management identify its strengths and areas requiring urgent attention.
“Our track record will be judged by what is done and not by what is said,” he said, reaffirming the commitment of the company’s management and board to delivering on the mandate given to it by President Bola Tinubu.
Beyond crude oil, NNPC is targeting gas production of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2030.
Ojulari said achieving the targets would require the development of both domestic consumption and export markets to ensure increased production translates into economic benefits.
He disclosed that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline was completed in August 2026, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline was expected to begin delivering gas to Abuja before the end of the year.
The pipelines are expected to improve gas supply for electricity generation, data centres and industrial activities.
NNPC is also pursuing regional export opportunities through the proposed Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline and Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.
Ojulari said countries involved in the Nigeria-Morocco project have aligned and executed the necessary agreements, while Nigeria, Algeria and Niger have reached an understanding on the development of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.
He also noted that more than 400 compressed natural gas conversion centres had been established across the country, while over 1,000 trucks used in transporting petroleum products had been converted to run on natural gas.
The development forms part of efforts to expand alternative fuel options and reduce the cost of transporting petroleum products following the removal of petrol subsidy.
Ojulari reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment to transparency and accountability, citing two consecutive earnings calls organised by the company to improve engagement with investors and other stakeholders.
Feyishola Jaiyesimi is a writer and storyteller. She currently writes for the energy desk at BusinessDay with a focus on renewable energy and environmental issues. She began her journalism career as an agricultural reporter and now covers the energy sector, including oil, gas, electricity, environment, and renewables. She has been selected for professional training by the US Consulate, Lagos. She is a 2025 Dataphyte Biodiversity Reporting Fellow. Feyishola holds a bachelor’s degree in Zoology and Environmental Biology from Ekiti State University.
