NNPC Clarifies Oil Block Allocation Under NUPRC

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) has clarified that the allocation of oil blocks now falls under the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), according to a statement from its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Mr Andy Odeh.

This clarification comes in response to recent media reports questioning the performance of NNPC Ltd.'s management under Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr Bayo Ojulari, particularly on the licensing round.

The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 assigns the conduct of oil licensing rounds and allocation of oil blocks as statutory responsibilities of NUPRC.

Under the current leadership, NNPC Ltd. has seen sustained growth in crude oil production, with average output rising from 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) in April 2025 to 1.67 mbpd by April 2026, representing a 6% increase or an additional 80,000 barrels per day.

The company has also reported growth in gas production, increasing from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd in April 2026, representing a 5% rise.