Nigeria’s crude oil production has witnessed a significant rebound, reaching a peak of 1.84 million barrels per day in 2025, following sustained efforts to improve pipeline security across the Niger Delta, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited has disclosed.
The state oil company revealed that production levels, which dropped to as low as 960,000 barrels per day in 2022, have steadily increased to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day, driven largely by the implementation of an integrated security framework designed to curb oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
This was made known by the Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC Ltd, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, during the Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipeline Security held at the National Assembly Complex.
According to Ojulari, the improvement in production figures is the result of a deliberate and coordinated strategy rather than chance. He explained that the success stems from an “integrated energy security model” that brings together multiple layers of intervention, including legislative and executive policy alignment, actionable intelligence gathering, deployment of security forces, regulatory oversight, industry collaboration, and community-based surveillance systems.
He noted that tackling the long-standing challenges of crude oil theft and pipeline sabotage has been central to the recovery of production levels. These issues, which had previously crippled output and revenue generation, are now being addressed more effectively through coordinated security operations and stakeholder engagement.
Ojulari further stated that the improved security situation has not only boosted production but also restored investor confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. According to him, stability in pipeline infrastructure and reduced incidents of vandalism are key factors encouraging both local and international investment in the industry.
At the roundtable, key political leaders emphasized the importance of sustained collaboration among stakeholders to consolidate the gains made so far. The President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, who was represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, called for stronger synergy among government agencies, security institutions, and industry players to address lingering challenges affecting oil production.
Similarly, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, Tajudeen Abbas, represented by the House Leader, Julius Ihonvbere, urged participants to critically assess the progress made in pipeline security operations. He stressed the need to ensure that interventions are implemented with fairness, equity, and accountability.
The Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipeline Security was convened by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources, bringing together top government officials, security chiefs, and key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector.
Among those in attendance were representatives of major security institutions, including the Office of the National Security Adviser, the Ministry of Defence, and various oil industry regulatory bodies. The forum also featured presentations from the Chief of Defence Staff, the Inspector General of Police, the Director General of the Department of State Services, the Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps, as well as private security firms involved in pipeline protection.
Discussions at the roundtable focused on evaluating the effectiveness of current security strategies, identifying existing gaps, and proposing sustainable solutions to safeguard Nigeria’s critical oil infrastructure.
The recovery in oil production is seen as a positive development for Nigeria’s economy, which relies heavily on crude oil exports for revenue. Analysts note that maintaining and further improving pipeline security will be crucial to sustaining production growth and ensuring long-term stability in the sector.
As the country continues to battle economic challenges, the gains recorded in oil production offer a measure of optimism, highlighting the impact of coordinated security efforts and policy alignment in addressing one of the industry’s most persistent problems.
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