PIA reforms lift oil output by 600,000bpd — NNPC

…Company targets two million bpd production by 2027 By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja Nigeria’s crude oil production has increased by 600,000 barrels per day (bpd), from about 1.2 million bpd to 1.8 million bpd, following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and reforms in the oil and gas sector, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has said.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Limited, Mr Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this on Tuesday at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC) in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. Speaking at an Energy Talk titled, “Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital,” Ojulari attributed the increase to the implementation of the PIA 2021, an improved investment climate, better investment decisions and stronger collaboration between NNPC and its partners.

He said the company was working towards achieving Nigeria’s two million bpd production target by 2027 through improved maintenance of existing infrastructure, protection of base production, increased output from producing assets and execution of new projects. “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,” he said.

On domestic energy supply, the NNPC boss said the removal of petrol subsidy had been accompanied by an expanded compressed natural gas (CNG) programme, with more than 400 conversion centres established across the country. He added that over 1,000 trucks used in transporting petroleum products had also been converted to run on CNG. On gas infrastructure, Ojulari disclosed that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas pipeline was completed in August 2026, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline was expected to deliver gas to Abuja before the end of the year.

He said the projects would support power generation, data centres and industrial hubs. On gas production, he said NNPC was targeting national output of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day (Bscf/d) by 2027 and 12 Bscf/d by 2030, supported by the development of domestic and international markets. Ojulari also said countries involved in the proposed Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline had aligned and executed the necessary agreements, while Nigeria, Algeria and Niger had reached an understanding on the development of the Trans-Saharan Gas Pipeline.

On investment, he identified major projects, including TotalEnergies’ Ubeta, Shell’s Bonga South-West and Eni’s Zabazaba developments, saying commercial agreements covering about $20 billion in investments had been concluded. He added that NNPC was building new relationships with international partners, including the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Chinese investors in Nigeria’s refineries.

The company was also working with global oilfield service providers to expand operational capacity in the country’s oil and gas industry, he said. According to Ojulari, a baseline assessment of NNPC’s assets and infrastructure had given the management a clearer understanding of the company’s portfolio, strengths and areas requiring improvement. He said the board and management remained committed to delivering on the mandate given to the company by President Bola Tinubu.

“Our track record will be judged by what is done and not by what is said,” he stated. Ojulari reaffirmed NNPC’s commitment to transparency and execution excellence, citing two consecutive earnings calls organised by the company as part of efforts to strengthen accountability.