The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has attributed a 600,000-barrel-per-day increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production to reforms in the petroleum industry, improved investment conditions and stronger collaboration with industry partners.

The Group Chief Executive Officer of NNPC, Bashir Bayo Ojulari, disclosed this on Tuesday during an energy session titled Nigeria’s Reform Agenda: Competing for Energy Capital at the 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference in the United Arab Emirates.

According to the company, national crude oil production has risen from approximately 1.2 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels per day, reflecting the impact of the Petroleum Industry Act and efforts to improve the operating environment.

Ojulari said NNPC was targeting production of two million barrels per day by 2027, stressing that achieving the goal would require sustained investment, infrastructure maintenance and accelerated execution of ongoing projects.

He described the current output level as an important milestone but warned that maintaining the gains depended on protecting existing production facilities and addressing operational challenges.

On domestic energy supply, the NNPC chief said the removal of the petrol subsidy had been accompanied by efforts to expand the use of compressed natural gas (CNG) as an alternative fuel.

He disclosed that more than 400 CNG conversion centres had been established nationwide, while over 1,000 trucks used for transporting petroleum products had been converted to run on natural gas.

Ojulari also announced that the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben gas pipeline was completed in August 2026, while the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano gas pipeline was expected to begin delivering gas to Abuja before the end of the year.

He said NNPC was targeting gas production of 10 billion standard cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion standard cubic feet daily by 2030.

On investment, Ojulari disclosed that commercial agreements covering approximately $20bn in projects had been concluded, highlighting developments involving international energy companies as evidence of renewed investor interest.

He identified projects including TotalEnergies’ Ubeta development, Shell’s Bonga South-West project and Eni’s Zabazaba development as part of the investment opportunities in Nigeria’s upstream sector.

The NNPC chief also said the company was engaging potential partners, including the United Arab Emirates’ national oil company, ADNOC, and Chinese investors interested in Nigeria’s refineries.

He reaffirmed the company's commitment to transparency and accountability, saying its performance would ultimately be measured by the delivery of projects and production targets.

The 2026 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference brought together government officials, energy executives, investors and technology leaders from more than 170 countries to discuss developments in the global energy industry.