The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Limited) says reforms in the oil and gas sector have increased Nigeria’s crude oil production by 600,000 barrels per day, raising output from approximately 1.2 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels per day.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking at an Energy Talk session titled Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in the United Arab Emirates.
Ojulari attributed the production increase to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, an improved investment climate, better investment decisions and closer collaboration between NNPC Limited and its industry partners.
According to him, the reforms have strengthened Nigeria’s position in attracting international investment into the oil and gas industry.
NNPC Targets Two Million Barrels Per Day by 2027
The NNPC boss said the company was working towards increasing national crude oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027.
He explained that the strategy involved maintaining existing infrastructure, protecting current production levels, increasing output from producing assets and accelerating projects expected to boost 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.
He added that a baseline assessment of NNPC’s assets and infrastructure had helped management identify the company’s strengths and areas requiring improvement.
“Our track record will be judged by what is done and not by what is said,” he said.
Over 400 CNG Conversion Centres Established
On domestic energy development, Ojulari said the removal of the petrol subsidy had been accompanied by an expanded compressed natural gas (CNG) programme.
He disclosed that more than 400 CNG conversion centres had been established, while over 1,000 trucks used for transporting petroleum products had been converted to run on natural gas.
The initiative is part of efforts to expand alternative fuel options and reduce dependence on conventional petroleum products.
Ojulari also announced that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline was completed in August 2026.
He said the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline was expected to begin delivering gas to Abuja before the end of the year.
The pipeline is expected to support electricity generation, data centres and industrial activities.
Nigeria Targets 12 Billion Cubic Feet of Gas Daily
Ojulari further disclosed that NNPC Limited was targeting national gas production of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bcf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bcf/d by 2030.
He said achieving the targets would require developing both domestic consumption and international export markets for Nigerian gas.
On regional gas development, he said countries involved in the proposed Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline had aligned and executed the necessary agreements.
He added that Nigeria, Algeria and Niger had also aligned on plans for the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.
Both projects are expected to strengthen regional energy cooperation and expand opportunities for Nigerian gas exports.
NNPC Secures $20bn Investment Agreements
Speaking on international investor interest, the NNPC chief identified major upstream developments, including TotalEnergies’ Ubeta project, Shell’s Bonga South-West development and Eni’s Zabazaba project.
He disclosed that commercial agreements covering approximately $20 billion in investments had been concluded.
Ojulari also said NNPC Limited was building new partnerships with international energy players, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Chinese investors interested in Nigeria’s refineries.
He added that the company was engaging global oilfield service providers to expand technical and operational capacity in the country’s energy industry.
The NNPC chief reaffirmed the company’s commitment to transparency and accountability, citing two consecutive earnings calls organised to improve engagement with investors and other stakeholders.
The 2026 ADIPEC, hosted by ADNOC under the patronage of UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, attracted more than 239,000 participants from over 170 countries.
The event brought together government officials, energy executives, investors and technology leaders to discuss energy security, investment opportunities and developments in the global energy industry.
