A civil society coalition dedicated to extractive industry transparency has praised the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited’s leadership for reforms that it claims have improved operational transparency and crude production.
The Coalition of Civil Society for Transparency in the Extractive Industry issued the assessment during a press conference in Abuja, where National Coordinator Dr Agabi Emanuel praised GCEO Engr Bashir Bayo Ojulari’s tenure since April 2025.
According to CCSTEI, NNPC has shifted from longstanding perceptions of opacity and inefficiency toward being a more commercially driven and accountable entity. The group highlighted consistent publication of monthly performance reports as fostering real-time stakeholder oversight.
The coalition applauded NNPC’s 2024 audited results, which showed revenue of N45.1 trillion and profit after tax of N5.4 trillion, representing a 64% year-on-year profit increase.
On production, CCSTEI celebrated NNPC Exploration and Production Limited reaching a daily crude output of 355,000 barrels on December 1, 2025, described as the highest in 36 years. This contributed to average daily production increasing 52 per cent from 203,000 barrels in 2023 to 312,000 barrels in 2025.
The group also acknowledged ongoing gas infrastructure investments, including the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline, the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline System, and the Obiafu-Obrikom-Oben pipeline, targeting 10 billion cubic feet per day by 2027 and 12 billion by 2030.
While praising progress, CCSTEI acknowledged ongoing challenges such as public scepticism, oil theft, and global energy transition pressures. The coalition called for continued support of Ojulari’s leadership while recommending enhancements in public engagement, third-party audits, anti-corruption measures, local content development, and energy transition alignment.
“Bashir Bayo Ojulari and his team for restoring confidence in NNPC Limited after many challenging years. You have proven that visionary leadership, coupled with accountability and performance excellence, can redefine an institution for the better,” Emanuel stated.
The assessment comes amid broader discussions about NNPC’s transformation since becoming a limited liability company. While financial results and production figures show improvement, questions persist about whether gains will translate into broader economic benefits for Nigerians facing high fuel costs and energy expenses.
The CCSTEI’s emphasis on transparency in the extractive industries positions the coalition as a monitoring organisation, but the assessment’s highly laudatory tone raises concerns about the independence and critical depth of civilian oversight.
It is unclear whether production increases and financial improvements represent a long-term turnaround or temporary gains. NNPC’s ambitious gas infrastructure targets require massive investments and execution capacity that have challenged previous administrations.
For ordinary Nigerians, improved NNPC financial performance matters primarily to the extent it reduces energy costs and generates revenue for government services. Despite corporate profit announcements, that connection has yet to materialise.
