By JKNewsMedia
SUSTAINED GROWTH in national crude oil and gas production has prompted Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) Limited to defend the performance of its leadership under Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari.
JKNewsMedia.com reports that the company said it had noted recent media commentary credited to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum questioning its leadership’s performance in connection with the recently concluded oil licensing round conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
NNPC Limited said it welcomed scrutiny of its operations and performance but sought to clarify claims relating to the licensing round and production figures.
The company said the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 places the conduct of oil licensing rounds and allocation of oil blocks within the statutory mandate of the NUPRC.
NNPC Limited said that since its incorporation, it had operated strictly as a commercial entity and held no regulatory or allocative authority.
On crude oil production, the company said publicly available data showed sustained improvement under its current leadership.
It said average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day, including condensate, as of April 2025.
Output increased through the second half of 2025 and stabilised at 1.67 million barrels per day, including condensate, by April 2026.
The company said the increase of approximately 80,000 barrels per day represented 6% growth.
It said the figures were documented in NNPC Limited’s Monthly Performance Report, which is available to the public.
The company also reported growth in gas production.
NNPC Limited said gas production averaged 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day as of April 2025.
By April 2026, production had risen to 7,729 million standard cubic feet per day, representing 5% growth.
The company said the increase indicated expanding gas output in support of Nigeria’s domestic energy security and export commitments.
NNPC Limited said the gas production figures were also documented in its publicly available Monthly Performance Report.
The company reiterated its commitment to transparency and said it would continue to engage openly on matters concerning its performance and operations.
It also said it reserved the right to take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against the publication of false or unsubstantiated claims.
NNPC Limited urged industry commentators, analysts and professional associations to verify information through appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before publication.
The company said this would help ensure that public commentary remained factual, balanced and contributed constructively to informed discourse on the Nigerian energy sector.
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