The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) says reforms in the oil and gas sector have added 600,000 barrels per day to national output, lifting crude production from about 1.2 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels per day.
The company says this leaves Nigeria better placed to attract international energy capital.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, made the disclosure on Tuesday at an Energy Talk titled “Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital.”
The session was moderated by John Defterios, Chairman, MENA, APCO, at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi, UAE.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, Ojulari credited the growth to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA, 2021), a better investment climate, sounder investment decisions and closer collaboration between NNPC Limited and its partners.
He said the company is now working towards its ambition of 2 million barrels per day by 2027. The plan is to maintain existing infrastructure, protect base production, raise output from producing assets and advance new projects scheduled to increase production.
“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 stated.
On the domestic market, he said the removal of the petrol subsidy has been accompanied by a major compressed natural gas (CNG) programme. Over 400 CNG conversion centres have been established, and more than 1,000 trucks that move petroleum products now run on CNG.
Ojulari added that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline was completed in August 2026. The Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline is expected to deliver gas to Abuja before the end of the year for power generation, data centres and industrial hubs.
He said NNPC Limited’s Board and management are working hard to meet the projections set out in the mandate given to the company by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
According to him, a baseline assessment of the company’s asset base and infrastructure has given management a full understanding of its portfolio, including its strengths and the areas that need improvement.
“Our track record will be judged by what is done and not by what is said,” he stated.
On regional gas supply, the GCEO noted that all countries involved in the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline have aligned and executed the necessary agreements.
He added that Nigeria, Algeria and Niger have aligned on the development of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.
Ojulari said NNPC Limited is targeting national gas production of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030, backed by the development of domestic and export markets for Nigerian gas.
On international interest in Nigeria, he cited major projects including TotalEnergies’ Ubeta, Shell’s Bonga South West and Eni’s Zabazaba developments.
He noted that commercial agreements covering about US$20 billion in investment have been concluded.
He further said NNPC Limited is building new relationships with partners, including ADNOC and Chinese investors in Nigeria’s refineries, and is working with global service companies to expand service capacity in the country.
Ojulari reaffirmed the company’s commitment to execution excellence and transparency, pointing to two consecutive earnings calls held by NNPC Limited.
The 2026 ADIPEC was held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, President of the United Arab Emirates, and hosted by ADNOC.
It brought together more than 239,000 participants from over 170 countries, including ministers, chief executives, investors and technology leaders, to discuss energy security, investment and supply.
