A prominent civil society coalition has issued a strong vote of confidence in the leadership of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd), awarding high marks to its Group Chief Executive Officer for driving significant reforms.
Coalition Applauds Transformative Leadership and Financial Turnaround
The Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry (CCSTEI) publicly commended Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari during a press conference held in Abuja. The group's National Coordinator, Dr. Agabi Emmanuel, highlighted the bold reforms implemented since Ojulari's appointment in April 2025, which have shifted the company towards greater commercial focus and accountability.
Dr. Emmanuel specifically praised the consistent publication of monthly performance reports, a move that has enabled real-time oversight by stakeholders and helped to alter long-standing perceptions of opacity within the corporation.
On the financial front, the coalition pointed to NNPC Ltd's audited results for 2024 as clear evidence of success. The company posted a record revenue of ₦45.1 trillion and achieved a profit after tax of ₦5.4 trillion. This figure represents a substantial 64% year-on-year growth in profit, signaling a robust financial recovery and operational efficiency.
Historic Production Milestones and Gas Infrastructure Push
The appraisal also celebrated remarkable achievements in Nigeria's core oil production sector. The coalition revealed that NNPC Exploration and Production Limited (NEPL), the company's upstream subsidiary, reached a significant milestone on December 1, 2025, by achieving a daily crude oil output of 355,000 barrels.
This single-day achievement is noted as the highest production level in 36 years. Overall, the average daily production has seen a dramatic rise of 52%, climbing from 203,000 barrels per day in 2023 to an average of 312,000 barrels per day in 2025.
Beyond crude oil, the CCSTEI acknowledged the strategic ongoing investments in gas infrastructure development. Progress on critical pipeline projects such as 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 ambitious targets of ramping up gas production to 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion by 2030.
Call for Sustained Efforts Amidst Recognized Challenges
While delivering high praise, the civil society group did not shy away from noting persistent challenges. It identified lingering public skepticism, continuous oil theft, and the pressures of the global energy transition as key hurdles that still require attention.
The coalition called for continued support for Engr. Ojulari's leadership and recommended further enhancements in several areas to consolidate the gains. Their recommendations include:
- Improved public engagement and communication strategies.
- Regular third-party audits to reinforce accountability.
- Strengthened anti-corruption measures within the sector.
- Accelerated development of local content and capacity.
- Clear alignment of NNPC's operations with national energy transition goals.
Concluding the comprehensive appraisal, Dr. Emmanuel stated, "Bashir Bayo Ojulari and his team [have restored] confidence in NNPC Limited after many challenging years." He added, "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."
The coalition's final message underscored the national significance of this transformation, asserting that with continued resolve, NNPC Limited can drive economic prosperity and stand as a beacon of transparent governance across Africa.
