Nigeria is witnessing a sharp recovery in its crude oil operations, with receipts from pipelines and export terminals now almost fully restored. The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Bayo Ojulari, attributed the progress to stronger security measures across the Niger Delta.

At the 2025 African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit, Ojulari explained that receipts, which had previously dropped to around 30 percent due to theft and sabotage, have climbed back to nearly 100 percent. He said the development highlights the success of joint efforts by the military, intelligence units, and other government agencies.

“Pipeline vandalism, illegal refineries, and crude theft that once crippled our operations are being brought under control,” he noted.

Nigeria had set its 2025 national budget based on producing 2.06 million barrels per day at $75 per barrel. However, repeated losses from theft and attacks made it difficult to reach that goal.

Ojulari stressed that oil theft goes beyond local actors, pointing to international syndicates that exploit weak security coordination. He called for African nations to strengthen regional cooperation to safeguard resources.

He also reaffirmed NNPCL’s support for security agencies, saying the improvement in crude receipts proves that collaboration is essential.

His comments come as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported a 10 percent year-on-year increase in crude production for July 2025, with output averaging 1.71 million barrels per day.

Ojulari added that consolidating these gains would help stabilize the energy sector, boost national revenue, and strengthen investor confidence.