The Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited has stated that sustained drilling activities are necessary to meet the country's targeted crude production levels of three million barrels a day. According to the NNPC, crude oil production has risen to 1.8 million barrels per day in the last month. This increase is attributed to improved security across exploration infrastructure and a reduction in oil theft. The NNPC's efforts to enhance production have yielded positive results.
The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bayo Ojulari, revealed this information at the 2026 Association of Energy Correspondents of Nigeria (NAEC) Conference in Lagos. Ojulari, represented by the Chief Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, noted that Nigeria's crude oil production, including condensates, has reached 1.821 million barrels per day. This reflects improved regulations and upstream activities, which have helped to enhance the operating environment and accelerate activities across the upstream sector.
The recent increase in crude oil production is a result of improved collaboration between the government and industry stakeholders. The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, stated that the increase was driven by efforts to remove bottlenecks that had slowed investment. Lokpobiri highlighted the rise in drilling activities, with the number of active rigs increasing from fewer than 10 to more than 70.
Lokpobiri emphasized that Nigeria's vast petroleum reserves would only translate into economic value if the government continued to create an enabling environment for investment. He stressed the need for the government to issue licences to investors with the requisite financial and technical capacity. This approach would help to drive growth and maximize the country's petroleum resources.
According to the NNPC, the country has recorded more than 80 per cent success in its efforts to improve production. The company's Chief Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, noted that sustained drilling activities are crucial to meeting the country's production targets. The NNPC is working to maintain the current level of production and further increase it.
The theme of the NAEC Conference was ‘Access To Assets: Empowering Players & Driving Growth’. The event provided a platform for stakeholders to discuss the challenges and opportunities in the energy sector. The NNPC's participation in the conference highlights its commitment to transparency and collaboration with industry stakeholders.
Nigeria produced 1,677,777 barrels of crude oil and condensate per day in August 2026, representing a 0.4 per cent increase compared to July. The country's crude oil production has been steadily increasing, and the NNPC is optimistic about meeting its production targets. The company's efforts to enhance production and create an enabling environment for investment are yielding positive results.
Key points
- Nigeria's crude oil production has risen to 1.821 million barrels per day.
- The increase in production is attributed to improved security and reduced oil theft.
- Sustained drilling activities are necessary to meet the country's production targets.
