The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has reaffirmed plans to increase crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027, as it seeks to strengthen Nigeria’s standing in the global energy market.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, made this commitment during the “Energy Talk” session at the ongoing Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC 2025) in the United Arab Emirates.
Ojulari said Nigeria’s current production stands at 1.7 million bpd and is projected to reach 3 million bpd in the long term, driven by renewed relationships with International Oil Companies (IOCs) and local independents.
He added that NNPC has been dismantling “legacy blockers” and promoting shared value alignment to enhance output and efficiency.
Emphasizing Nigeria’s pivotal role in the continent’s energy landscape, Ojulari described NNPC as the “linchpin” of Africa’s energy sufficiency.
He stated that the company’s ongoing partnerships with the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), African National Oil Companies (NOCs), and global financial institutions are designed to attract between $30 billion and $60 billion in energy investments by 2030.
He said new government incentives beyond the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) are already pulling capital into deep-water oil exploration, dry gas development, and cost-cutting innovations.
According to him, “Africa’s energy future must be built on pragmatism, partnerships, and purpose. At NNPC Limited, we are not just participating in the energy transition, we are shaping it from an African perspective.”
Ojulari highlighted key national projects including the near-completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) gas pipeline and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) gas link, both central to Nigeria’s gas infrastructure expansion.
He also spotlighted the Presidential CNG Initiative and the development of new autogas corridors as part of the nation’s cleaner energy rollout.
He stressed that under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, Nigeria aims to move beyond being an extractive economy to becoming a diversified, investment-driven energy hub. “Our focus is pragmatic: grow production, monetize gas, deepen partnerships, and deliver value to Nigerians and global partners alike,” Ojulari said.
Echoing ADNOC CEO Sultan Ahmed Al Jaber’s call for “pragmatic, not performative” energy policies, Ojulari urged global stakeholders to co-invest in Africa’s energy transformation. “Our message to the world is clear: Nigeria is open for business, and NNPC Limited is fit for the future,” he said.
NNPC’s participation at ADIPEC 2025, themed “Energy. Intelligence. Impact.”, underscores its evolution into a commercially driven, globally engaged energy company.
The company’s delegation, led by Ojulari and including top executives like Executive Vice President Sophia Mbakwe and Board Chairman, reinforced NNPC’s unified leadership and global outreach.
During a closed-door session of the Global Oil Club, Ojulari called for joint strategies to “de-risk energy infrastructure and unlock shared prosperity” across Africa. “Africa’s energy future must be built on collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. NNPC Limited stands ready to co-create solutions that will deliver real impact,” he added.
Supporting the vision, Executive Vice President for Upstream, Udy Ntia, stated that NNPC remains ready to co-invest in industry-wide solutions while accelerating oil and gas production in line with Nigeria’s and Africa’s broader energy mandates.
