The National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has lifted crude oil output to a five-year high of 1.171 million barrels per day, as it accelerates a broad-based transformation spanning upstream production, gas infrastructure and commercial partnerships.
The milestone, disclosed in the company’s “April 2025 – April 2026 One-Year Mandate Report,” underscores a renewed operational push under Group Chief Executive Bashir Bayo Ojulari, whose first year in office has focused on restoring production capacity and improving asset performance.
A key driver of the gains was NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, which recorded an all-time peak output of 365,000 barrels per day in December 2025.
Beyond crude, NNPC said it is deepening its gas monetisation agenda, with infrastructure delivery emerging as a central theme. The completion of the River Niger crossing and full welding of the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) pipeline in July 2025 marks a major step in linking supply corridors across the country.
Progress was also recorded on the Assa North–Ohaji South (ANOH) gas processing plant and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline network, reinforcing supply capacity. Gas output closed at 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day during the review period.
Commercial linkages are expanding alongside infrastructure. NNPC executed supply agreements involving NNPC Gas Marketing Limited and Dangote Refinery, as well as a Network Exit Agreement tied to Dangote Fertilizer, positioning gas as a key feedstock for industrial growth.
On the regulatory front, NNPC advanced new Production Sharing Contracts covering Petroleum Prospecting Licences 2000 and 2001, introducing frameworks aimed at unlocking deepwater non-associated gas resources.
The company also moved to resolve legacy asset disputes, including the long-standing OPL 245 issue, paving the way for restructuring into new licences and renewed project development, notably the Zabazaba/Etan field.
Further boosting investor sentiment, NNPC secured presidential approval for incentives linked to the Bonga South West Aparo project, a major deepwater development under OML 118 that has faced delays in reaching final investment decision.
NNPC further noted that it is simultaneously strengthening its presence in global oil markets. New shipping alliances with Stena Bulk and Sonangol are expected to enhance crude trading logistics, while the introduction of the Cawthorne crude grade adds to Nigeria’s export portfolio.
The company also expanded its Oleum lubricants brand across West Africa, signalling a push into regional downstream markets.
In the downstream segment, NNPC is restructuring its refinery business model through an Incorporated Joint Venture framework designed to enable self-financing and improve operational efficiency.
It also consolidated its 7.25 percent equity stake in the Dangote Refinery, reinforcing its strategic alignment with Africa’s largest refining project. Crude supply to the facility has continued under the “crude-for-naira” arrangement, aimed at supporting domestic refining capacity.
To deepen gas development, NNPC signed a tripartite memorandum with China Gas Holdings Ltd and Pelygang Chemical Singapore PTE Ltd, targeting investment inflows and technical collaboration.
From a fiscal standpoint, the company reported a return to full monthly remittances to the Federation Account since July 2025, an important signal for government revenue stability and transparency.
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