NNPC crude oil production rises to 1.71m barrels per day in 2025 as improved pipeline security boosts output and investor confidence
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has confirmed a significant recovery in national output, with crude oil production rising from a historic low of 960,000 barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day in 2025, reaching a peak of 1.84 million barrels per day, driven by strengthened pipeline security in the Niger Delta.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed the figures on Wednesday during a Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipelines Security held at the National Assembly in Abuja.
He attributed the improvement to what he described as an integrated approach to safeguarding energy infrastructure across key oil producing regions.
Ojulari explained that the progress was not accidental, but the result of a coordinated strategy that combines policy alignment, intelligence gathering, security deployment, regulatory oversight, industry collaboration, and community based surveillance.
He said the approach has helped address longstanding challenges of oil theft and pipeline vandalism, which previously constrained production levels.
According to him, the resurgence in crude oil output has contributed to renewed investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The improved production figures mark a notable recovery from years of disruption that affected both operational efficiency and revenue generation.
The roundtable brought together key stakeholders across government and security institutions.
President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, emphasised the need for stronger collaboration among agencies to sustain progress in tackling pipeline security challenges.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, represented by Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere, urged participants to assess ongoing efforts critically to ensure fairness, equity, and continued improvement in the sector.
Their remarks underscored the importance of coordinated oversight in addressing structural issues affecting production.
The session also featured participation from senior security officials, including the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police, and the Director General of the Department of State Services, alongside representatives of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps and private security operators.
Their presence highlighted the multi agency nature of the response required to protect critical national infrastructure.
Ojulari noted that sustained collaboration between security agencies, policymakers, and industry stakeholders remains essential to maintaining the gains achieved so far.
He stressed that protecting pipelines is central not only to production stability but also to long term economic growth and national energy security.
The renewed output figures signal a positive shift for Nigeria’s oil sector, with improved security measures playing a decisive role in restoring operational stability and reinforcing confidence among investors and industry players.