NNPC Defends Ojulari’s Leadership, Says Crude Oil Production Grew 6%
The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has defended the performance of its management under Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, dismissing recent criticism over the company’s performance in the recently concluded oil licensing round.
The company said recent media comments attributed to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which questioned Ojulari’s leadership in connection with the licensing round, were based on claims that did not accurately reflect NNPC Ltd’s statutory responsibilities and production performance.
In a statement issued by NNPC Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, explained that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the conduct of oil licensing rounds and allocation of oil blocks are exclusively within the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The company stressed that NNPC Ltd operates as a commercial entity and, since its incorporation, has had no regulatory or allocative authority over oil blocks.
On crude oil production, NNPC Ltd said publicly available data showed sustained growth under the current leadership.
According to the company, average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd), including condensate, as of April 2025. Production subsequently increased and stabilised at 1.67mbpd, including condensate, by April 2026.
NNPC Ltd said the increase of about 80,000 barrels per day represented a six per cent growth in crude oil production.
The company also reported growth in natural gas production, saying output rose from an average of 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729mmscfd by April 2026, representing a five per cent increase.
It said the growth in gas production was supporting Nigeria’s domestic energy security as well as the country’s export commitments.
NNPC Ltd noted that the production figures were contained in its publicly available Monthly Performance Reports.
The company said it welcomed scrutiny of its operations, describing transparency and accountability as important principles of its transformation into a fully commercial and globally competitive energy company.
However, it warned that it would take necessary steps to protect the reputation of the company and its leadership against what it described as false or unsubstantiated claims.
NNPC Ltd urged industry commentators, analysts and professional associations to verify information through relevant regulatory and corporate channels before publishing claims about its operations.
The company said such verification would promote factual, balanced and constructive public discourse on Nigeria’s energy sector.
