The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) is accelerating the adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) in its upstream operations as part of a broader strategy to increase Nigeria’s oil production to 3 million barrels per day (bpd). The move reflects a growing shift within the industry toward digital innovation, as the national oil company seeks to cut costs and improve efficiency across its operations.
Speaking at the 26th Oloibiri Lecture Series and Energy Forum in Abuja, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, described AI as no longer optional but essential. Represented by the Executive Vice President, Upstream, Udobong Ntia, Ojulari emphasized the importance of unlocking value from Nigeria’s vast historical data, some of which dates back to 1956 and still exists in paper form.
According to him, the company has already invested heavily in digitizing this data and is now focused on extracting meaningful insights from it. He warned that failing to fully utilize these resources could mean losing a critical advantage in optimizing production. Plans are also underway to review budgets across operators and service providers to ensure wider adoption of AI technologies in the coming year.
NNPC’s roadmap to achieving its production target is built on a three-stage strategy. The first focuses on maintaining and upgrading existing infrastructure, particularly aging facilities, while the second aims to accelerate production growth through alternative financing models and partnerships with major industry players like Chevron and TotalEnergies. The third stage involves reviewing asset portfolios to unlock value, encourage local participation, and attract fresh investments into marginal fields.
Ojulari also credited recent industry reforms, particularly the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), for creating a more stable and investment-friendly environment. With over $24 billion already attracted into the sector, he stressed the need for flexible, data-driven regulations to sustain momentum. As global demand for Nigerian gas continues to rise, NNPC is positioning itself as a key link between policy and execution, driving a new era of efficiency, innovation, and energy security.
source: Leadership