Nigeria is steadily progressing toward boosting its crude oil production to two million barrels per day (bpd) by 2027, with ambitions to reach three million bpd by 2030, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has announced.
Udy Ntia, Executive Vice President of Upstream at NNPCL, shared the update on Monday during the 2025 Abu Dhabi International Petroleum Exhibition and Conference (ADIPEC), the world’s largest energy industry event hosted by the Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC). The conference, now in its 41st edition, is themed “Energy, Intelligence, Impact” and runs from November 3 to 6, drawing stakeholders from energy, finance, and technology sectors worldwide.
Ntia highlighted that Nigeria’s upstream growth strategy is rooted in collaboration, smart investment, and technological innovation rather than competition. “Our focus is not merely on increasing production but improving efficiency, profitability, and environmental responsibility,” he said.
He identified three key factors shaping the global and Nigerian upstream sector: pressures from energy transition, industry fragmentation, and technological advances. In particular, digital technologies and artificial intelligence are being deployed to optimize operations and extract more value from mature oil fields.
On environmental responsibility, Ntia affirmed NNPCL’s commitment to reducing emissions while sustaining oil production. He emphasized that Africa contributes less than three percent of global emissions, and that decarbonisation efforts can proceed alongside responsible production. Initiatives include flare reduction programs, gas pipeline development such as the Nigeria-Morocco Gas Pipeline, and refinery optimisation.
He also underscored the importance of co-investment and partnerships between national and international oil companies. “The goal is to expand opportunities for everyone. International oil companies are partners, not competitors, and collaborative strategies are key to profitability, sustainability, and growth,” Ntia explained.
Through this approach, NNPCL aims to ensure that Nigeria’s oil resources remain strategically relevant in a rapidly evolving global energy landscape while supporting economic growth and responsible energy production.
