Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — NNPC E&P Limited, NEPL, has reached a historic crude oil production level of 355,000 barrels per day, its highest daily output since 1989, a milestone which signals a major turnaround in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
The new peak, achieved on December 1, 2025, underscores the company’s ongoing transformation anchored on operational discipline, efficiency and strengthened asset management.
NEPL’s average daily output has risen by 52 percent, moving from 203,000bpd in 2023 to 312,000bpd in 2025, reflecting one of the most dramatic production rebounds in decades.
Group CEO of NNPC Limited, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described the accomplishment as proof that Nigeria’s long-promised energy resurgence is finally materialising.
“NEPL has shown its ability to exceed its own production benchmarks, confirming that the building blocks for scaling national output are now firmly in place,” Ojulari said.
“This achievement signals that equipment, processes, capabilities, and partnerships can be driven with commercial discipline to produce real and positive outcomes.”
He added that the milestone restores confidence among global operators and investors who view Nigeria as a key energy supplier.
Executive Vice President of NNPCL, Upstream, Udy Ntia, said the breakthrough represents more than record barrels.
“In a sector where shortcuts can bring short-term gains but long-term damage, NEPL is proving that sustainable progress must rest on responsible operations. This ensures production growth does not compromise worker safety, communities, or the environment,” he stated.
Managing Director of NEPL, Nicolas Foucart, linked the achievement to strengthened leadership structures, clearer operational direction and a committed workforce.
“This is a story shaped by leadership that charts a clear course, by partnerships built on accountability, and by a workforce turning goals into measurable progress,” Foucart said. “We are building for tomorrow, not just celebrating today.”
He added that increased output translates into “greater national revenue, stronger energy security, and a more resilient economic foundation,” noting that the achievement has revived belief in what Nigeria’s energy sector can deliver when systems and culture are aligned.
The production surge strengthens Nigeria’s push toward meeting presidential targets of 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day by 2030, goals previously viewed as ambitious but now gaining credibility through NEPL’s performance.
NEPL, a wholly-owned subsidiary of NNPC Limited, manages upstream exploration and production of Nigeria’s oil and gas resources.
