A prominent civil society group has issued strong commendations to the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) for engineering a significant turnaround in the nation's crucial oil and gas sector.
Coalition Applauds Record Performance and Transparency
The Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry (CCSTEI) publicly praised the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, for his transformative impact since his appointment in April 2025. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja, the coalition's National Coordinator, Dr. Agabi Emmanuel, highlighted a shift from past perceptions of opacity to a new era of commercial drive and accountability.
Key to this shift, according to the group, is the consistent publication of monthly performance reports, which allows for real-time oversight by stakeholders. Financially, the company's audited results for 2024 showed remarkable strength, posting a record revenue of ₦45.1 trillion and a profit after tax of ₦5.4 trillion. This represents a staggering 64% year-on-year growth in profit.
Historic Milestone in Crude Oil Production
The most tangible evidence of the sector's revival under Ojulari's watch is the dramatic increase in crude oil production. The CCSTEI celebrated a major milestone achieved by NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the company's upstream subsidiary.
On December 1, 2025, NEPL hit a daily crude oil output of 355,000 barrels. This figure is noted as the highest daily production level recorded in 36 years. This achievement contributed to a substantial rise in the average daily production rate.
The average increased by 52%, climbing from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to 312,000 barrels per day in 2025.
Gas Infrastructure and Future Challenges
Beyond crude oil, the coalition also acknowledged ongoing strategic investments in gas infrastructure. Progress on critical pipeline projects like the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline, the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System (ELPS), and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben (OB3) pipeline was highlighted. These projects are central to Nigeria's ambition of achieving a gas production capacity of 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion by 2030.
While celebrating these successes, the CCSTEI did not shy away from noting persistent hurdles. The statement recognized challenges such as public skepticism, crude oil theft, and the pressures of the global energy transition. The coalition called for continued support for Ojulari's leadership and recommended further action in several areas:
- Enhanced public engagement and communication.
- Implementation of regular third-party audits.
- Strengthening of anti-corruption frameworks.
- Boosted local content development.
- Better alignment with national energy transition goals.
Concluding the appraisal, Dr. Emmanuel stated: "Bashir Bayo Ojulari and his team [have done well] for restoring confidence in NNPC Limited after many challenging years. You have proven that visionary leadership, coupled with accountability and performance excellence, can redefine an institution for the better. We charge you to soldier on undeterred."
He added, "The Nigerian people are watching, and with your continued resolve, NNPC Limited will not only drive economic prosperity but also serve as a beacon of transparent governance in Africa."
