The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has stated that since its incorporation in September 2021, it has been operating strictly as a commercial entity and holds no regulatory or allocative authority.
The national oil company said the clarification was necessary following recent media commentary, credited to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), questioning the performance of the Company’s leadership under Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, in connection with the recently concluded oil licensing round conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
It said while it welcomes scrutiny of its operations and performance, consistent with the transparency and accountability the Company holds itself to, it was important to set the record straight on the specific claims raised.
In a statement on Saturday by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, the company said under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the conduct of oil licensing rounds and the allocation of oil blocks fall squarely within the statutory mandate of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
NNPC said publicly available data reflects a clear and sustained improvement in crude oil output under the current leadership, noting that as of April 2025, average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) inclusive of condensate.
“Output rose through the second half of 2025 and stabilised at 1.67 mbpdinclusive of condensate, by April 2026. This is an increase of approximately 80 thousand barrels per day which represents 6% growth. These figures are documented in NNPC Limited’s Monthly Performance Report, which is available to the public,” it said.
The Company said its gas production has recorded similar growth, explaining that as of April 2025, gas production averaged 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
“By April 2026, this had risen to 7,729 mmscfd, which represents a 5% growth, an indicator of expanding gas output in support of Nigeria’s domestic energy security and export commitments. Again, these figures are documented in the publicly available NNPC Limited’s Monthly Performance Report,” it said.
While stating that it remains committed to operating with transparency and will continue to engage openly on matters concerning the Company’s performance and operations, the Company also said it reserves the right to take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against publication of false or unsubstantiated claims.
It therefore, encouraged industry commentators, analysts, and professional associations to verify information through the appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before publication. This, it said, would help ensure that public commentary is factual, balanced, and contributes constructively to informed discourse on the Nigerian energy sector.
