Nigeria Oil Output Hits 1.84mbpd as Lawmakers Back Pipeline Surveillance Contracts

Nigeria’s crude oil production has climbed sharply to 1.84 million barrels per day (bpd) in 2025, marking a significant recovery from the 960,000 bpd recorded in 2022. The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) disclosed this during a high-level parliamentary roundtable in Abuja, highlighting renewed confidence in the country’s oil sector after years of disruption caused by theft and pipeline vandalism.

According to NNPCL Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, the turnaround is the result of a coordinated “integrated energy security model” that combines government action, private sector involvement, and community participation. He noted that Nigeria has maintained an average production of 1.71 million bpd this year—the highest in five years—crediting improved intelligence, regulatory oversight, and on-ground security efforts in the Niger Delta.

Lawmakers at the roundtable also threw their weight behind existing pipeline surveillance contracts, dismissing multiple petitions against firms such as Tantita Security Services, Maton Engineering Nigeria Limited, and Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL). Despite calls from some groups to decentralize surveillance operations, the National Assembly found no evidence to support claims of inefficiency or misconduct, instead warning that fragmentation could weaken coordination.

The House of Representatives passed a vote of confidence in the surveillance framework, with officials pointing to measurable gains, including near-total pipeline availability and increased oil revenues. Speaker Abbas Tajudeen noted that oil theft once accounted for losses of up to 30 percent of production, but the current model has not only curbed these losses but also created jobs for youths in the Niger Delta, fostering a sense of local ownership and responsibility.

Security agencies and government stakeholders emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration to address infrastructure gaps and ensure long-term stability. With global energy dynamics still uncertain, Nigeria’s improved oil output offers economic relief, given that crude accounts for over 90 percent of the country’s foreign exchange earnings. While the progress signals optimism, experts continue to stress the need for diversification into gas and renewable energy to secure the future of the nation’s energy landscape.

source: leadesrship