NNPC Defends Ojulari, Citing Crude Oil Production Gains

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) has responded to recent criticisms of its management's performance, citing increases in crude oil and gas production under Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari's leadership.

In a statement, NNPC's Chief Corporate Communications Officer Andy Odeh clarified that the company has no regulatory or allocative authority over oil licensing rounds, which fall within the mandate of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

Odeh emphasized the company's commitment to transparency and accountability, stating that NNPC remains open to scrutiny from industry stakeholders and the public, but warned against false or unsubstantiated claims.

The company reported average crude oil production of 1.60 million barrels per day in April 2025, increasing to 1.67 million barrels per day by April 2026, representing a growth of about 80,000 barrels per day or six percent.