Nigeria can increase crude production by 100,000 bpd in coming months, says Ojulari
Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC Ltd), Bashir Bayo Ojulari. Has disclosed that Nigeria could increase its crude oil production by about 100,000 barrels per day (bpd) over the next few months.
The disclosure was made during an interview with Reuters on the sidelines of the CERAWeek by S&P Global conference in Houston.
The planned increase comes as Nigeria seeks to strengthen output and contribute to global supply amid ongoing geopolitical tensions affecting oil markets.
Ojulari said Nigeria is gradually building capacity to boost production, although it may not match the scale of leading oil producers.
“We are building that capacity,” Ojulari said.
“We are not like Saudi (Arabia), but we can contribute.”
He noted that Nigeria averaged about 1.6 million to 1.7 million bpd last year.
The country is targeting an average production of 1.8 million bpd in 2026.
He added that the production increase could help offset supply disruptions linked to global conflicts, including tensions involving the U.S., Israel, and Iran.
NNPC has been implementing strategic reforms aimed at improving efficiency and boosting output across its operations.
The company completed a full portfolio review of its business in 2025.
It is now focusing on improving project execution and delivery timelines.
Efforts are being made to ensure projects are completed on budget after previous delays.
The reforms are part of broader initiatives to strengthen Nigeria’s oil sector performance.
These changes are expected to enhance operational efficiency and support incremental production growth.
