By Hussein J-Isah
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company’s upstream subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, has recorded its peak daily crude oil production, first time in over thirty years.
The company hit a landmark 355,000 barrels per day on December 1, 2025.
Confirming the feat in a statement issued on Tuesday by NNPC Limited’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh said this marks the company’s biggest output since 1989, and record production which signals renewed momentum in Nigeria’s upstream recovery efforts.
The statement stressed that NNPC E&P Limited’s average daily output has increased by 52 per cent in two years, rising from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025—a performance the company attributed to strengthened operational systems, disciplined asset management and structured field development.
According to the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, “On December 1, 2025, NNPC E&P Limited, the flagship upstream subsidiary of NNPC Limited, achieved a record production level of 355,000 barrels of oil per day, its highest daily output since 1989.
“The milestone marks a significant step forward for Nigeria’s upstream sector and reflects the company’s ongoing transformation anchored on efficiency and discipline.
“The figures show genuine transformation: average daily production surged 52 per cent, rising from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 in 2025.
“This record growth is no coincidence; it stems from a clear strategy anchored on operational excellence, strong asset management and structured field development.”
Commenting on the achievement, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bayo Ojulari, described the feat achieved as evidence that Nigeria’s energy revival “is not a dream but already happening.” He stated that by surpassing its own production benchmarks, NNPC E&P has proven that the key building blocks required to scale national output are being established.
“By showing its ability to exceed its own production benchmarks, NEPL confirms that the essential building blocks for scaling national output are being firmly established.
He added that, “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.
“The achievement converts national ambition into measurable momentum. The presidential targets of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million by 2030 have often appeared aspirational. NEPL’s delivery brings them closer to reality,” he added.
He said the accomplishment help to garner investor confidence and reassures global partners that Nigeria remains committed to reclaiming its place as a stable and dependable crude supplier.
The Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udy Ntia, also said that the milestone represents more than a production figure, noting that NEPL’s growth hinges on responsible and sustainable operations.
“In a sector where shortcuts can yield short-term wins but long-term damage, NEPL is making a different point: sustainable progress must rest on responsible operations.
“This ensures that scaling production does not compromise worker safety, community wellbeing or environmental protection,” Ntia said.
He said that the company’s approach ensures that higher output does not undermine worker safety, environmental protections or community relations.
President Bola Tinubu’s administration has set ambitious production targets of two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030, targets that industry players previously considered optimistic.
NNPC E&P Limited, a wholly owned subsidiary responsible for several joint venture and production-sharing assets, has been positioned as a key driver of the revival.
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