Nigeria’s state oil company, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), is set to increase its oil output by approximately 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) in the coming months, its CEO, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, announced at the CERAWeek 2026 conference in Houston. The move comes amid rising global energy demand and seeks to position Nigeria as a reliable supplier in the international oil market.
Ojulari highlighted the role of key infrastructure projects such as the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) pipeline and Nigeria’s deepwater assets in monetising the country’s abundant gas reserves. The CEO emphasized that these initiatives are central to the country’s long-term energy strategy, balancing immediate oil production with future gas-led industrial growth.
The GCEO noted that Nigeria averaged 1.6 to 1.7 million bpd last year and aims to reach 1.8 million bpd this year. While acknowledging that Nigeria cannot match Saudi Arabia’s output, he stressed that the nation can contribute meaningfully to offsetting global supply gaps caused by geopolitical disruptions, including the U.S.-Israeli tensions involving Iran.
During his address, Ojulari also outlined NNPC’s renewed focus on project execution, budget discipline, and partnerships with global energy firms like Shell and Eni. By leveraging international expertise, Nigeria aims to unlock its deepwater and onshore potential, ensuring projects are delivered efficiently and profitably. He described the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as providing regulatory certainty, while infrastructure improvements and security enhancements are attracting private investment.
Ojulari concluded by framing Nigeria’s energy strategy around realism and long-term value. “We are funding the future with the present,” he said, underscoring that oil will sustain economic value today while gas underpins industrialisation and transition fuels are deployed selectively. With over 600 trillion cubic feet of proven gas reserves, Nigeria is now positioning itself as a hub for energy investment in Africa, balancing commercial returns with national energy security.
source: Leadership