Oil Production Peaks at 1.84M bpd Amid Pipeline Security Gains—NNPC

Nigeria’s crude oil production has surged to a peak of 1.84 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025, up dramatically from a historic low of 960,000 bpd in 2022, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) confirmed on Wednesday.

The group chief executive officer, Bayo Ojulari attributed this resurgence to a robust “integrated energy security model” protecting pipelines in the Niger Delta, a breakthrough hailed at a high-level Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipelines Security.

Speaking at the event convened by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources at the National Assembly, Ojulari detailed how the model has effectively combated oil theft and pipeline sabotage—longstanding threats that eroded investor confidence and slashed revenues.

“This success is not accidental,” he emphasised. “It stems from an integrated energy security model that combines legislative and executive policy alignment, actionable intelligence, kinetic deployment capabilities, regulatory oversight, industry cooperation, and community-embedded surveillance mechanisms.”

The average production for 2025 stood at 1.71 million bpd, reflecting nearly an 80 per cent increase from the 2022 lows. This rebound comes after years of turmoil in the Niger Delta, where rampant vandalism and theft siphoned off billions in potential earnings, forcing Nigeria to miss OPEC quotas and strain its budget amid global energy demands.

Stakeholder Calls for Sustained Collaboration

The roundtable drew top brass, including Senate President Sen. Godswill Akpabio (represented by Sen. Jimoh Ibrahim) and House Speaker (represented by Leader Hon. Prof. Julius Ihonvbere). Akpabio’s representative urged deeper collaboration among agencies and stakeholders to tackle remaining hurdles like infrastructure decay and regulatory gaps. “We must resolve all challenges impeding production growth,” he stated in the welcome address.

Ihonvbere echoed the sentiment, calling for a fair evaluation of progress to ensure equity across regions and sectors. “This forum should assess achievements and chart equitable paths forward,” he said.

Presentations from heavyweights like the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services, Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, and private security firms underscored the multi-agency effort. Discussions highlighted data-driven surveillance and community buy-in as keys to sustaining gains.

NNPC’s disclosure signals renewed optimism for Nigeria’s oil-dependent economy, which relies on crude exports for over 90 per cent of foreign exchange. Restored production could bolster fiscal reserves, fund infrastructure, and attract fresh investments, analysts note. However, experts caution that diversification into gas and renewables remains crucial amid global energy transitions.
As Nigeria navigates these dynamics, the pipeline security model’s success offers a blueprint for stability in the volatile oil sector.