Nigeria’s Oil Output Rebounds as NNPC Credits Pipeline Security Overhaul
By Onwe Wisdom, Pan Afric Reporters
Nigeria’s crude oil production has recorded a significant rebound, rising from a historic low of 960,000 barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day, with peaks of 1.84 million barrels per day in 2025, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd).
The disclosure was contained in a press release issued on April 8, 2026, by Andy Odeh, Chief Corporate Communications Officer of NNPC Ltd.
Speaking at a Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipeline Security held at the National Assembly in Abuja, the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, attributed the production growth to a comprehensive and integrated security framework in the Niger Delta.
“This was not accidental. It involved 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,” Ojulari said.
He explained that the strategy has effectively curtailed oil theft and pipeline vandalism—longstanding challenges that had crippled Nigeria’s oil output—thereby restoring investor confidence in the sector.
The roundtable also drew high-level participation from key government and security stakeholders, underscoring the strategic importance of pipeline security to Nigeria’s economy.
In his remarks, Senate President Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Jomoh Ibrahim, called for sustained collaboration among stakeholders.
“There is a need for synergy among agencies and stakeholders in resolving all challenges impeding production growth,” he said.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by House Leader Julius Ihonvbere , urged a critical assessment of ongoing efforts.
“The forum must evaluate the progress made so far with a view to ensuring fairness and equity,” he noted.
The parliamentary roundtable, convened by the Joint Senate and House Committees on Petroleum Resources, featured presentations from top security chiefs, including heads of the armed forces, police, and intelligence agencies, as well as private security operators involved in safeguarding oil infrastructure.
Analysts say the reported production growth, if sustained, could significantly boost Nigeria’s revenue profile and economic stability, especially amid ongoing efforts to reform the oil and gas sector and attract foreign investment.
