The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says its flagship upstream subsidiary, NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), hit 355,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil production, its highest daily output since 1989. It said the increased production was achieved on December 1, 2025. In a statement released on Tuesday, the national oil firm said the average …
NNPC Hits 355,000 bpd, Records Highest Daily Production in three Decades
The Nigeria National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited says its flagship upstream subsidiary, NNPC E&P Limited (NEPL), hit 355,000 barrels per day (bpd) of oil production, its highest daily output since 1989.
It said the increased production was achieved on December 1, 2025.
In a statement released on Tuesday, the national oil firm said the average daily production rose by 52 per cent from 203,000 bpd in 2023 to 312,000 in 2025.
The company attributed the record growth to a deliberate strategy, emphasising operational excellence, robust asset management, and structured field development, adding that NEPL’s performance proves that the Nigerian upstream sector can stabilise and thrive with effective leadership, improved systems, and a dedicated workforce, overcoming instability recorded in the past.
It asserted that the recent upstream performance demonstrates that the presidential targets of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030, which have often appeared aspirational, seem achievable.
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Group CEO of NNPC, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, asserted that this recent production milestone is tangible proof that Nigeria’s energy revival is actively underway, not merely a future aspiration.
Ojulari stated that by demonstrating its potential to exceed its own production targets, NEPL indicates that the fundamental building blocks for increasing national output are firmly entrenched.
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“The achievement signals that the machinery of production—equipment, processes, capabilities, and partnerships—can be driven with commercial discipline to produce real and positive outcomes,” Ojulari stated.
He went on to say that this performance boosts confidence both domestically and in the international energy community, reassuring investors and partners of Nigeria’s commitment to its role as a dependable energy supplier.
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Udy Ntia, the Executive Vice President, Upstream, noted that the achievement goes beyond the 355,000 bpd figure, emphasising focus on sustainable value creation, which is required of any modern energy company seeking global relevance.
Nicolas Foucart, Managing Director, NEPL, highlighted the positive impact of the performance on national revenue, stronger energy security, and a more resilient economic foundation. “NEPL has not only produced more hydrocarbons; it has reignited belief in what Nigeria’s energy sector can achieve with the right systems, culture, and dedication,” Foucart stated.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in mass communication.
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