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The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has defended the performance of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, saying the company has recorded sustained growth in crude oil and gas production under his leadership.
The company made the clarification in a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, in response to recent media reports attributed to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which questioned NNPC Ltd.’s performance and its role in the recently concluded oil licensing round.
NNPC Ltd. said the criticism appeared to have been based on a misunderstanding of the company’s statutory responsibilities, particularly regarding the licensing round conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
According to the company, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 places the conduct of oil licensing rounds and allocation of oil blocks exclusively under the statutory mandate of NUPRC.
“NNPC Limited, since its incorporation, has operated strictly as a commercial entity and holds no regulatory or allocative authority,” the statement said.
On crude oil production, NNPC Ltd. said available data showed a sustained improvement in output under the current leadership.
The company disclosed that average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd), inclusive of condensate, in April 2025.
It said production subsequently increased through the second half of 2025 and reached 1.67mbpd, inclusive of condensate, by April 2026.
The company said the increase of about 80,000 barrels per day represented a six per cent growth in crude oil production.
Similarly, NNPC Ltd. reported a five per cent increase in gas production over the period under review.
According to the company, gas production rose from an average of 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729mmscfd by April 2026.
It said the growth in gas production was contributing to 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 reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and accountability, saying it would continue to engage openly on issues concerning its operations and performance.
It, however, 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.
The company also urged industry commentators, analysts and professional associations to verify information through appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before making public statements.
It said accurate and balanced reporting would contribute to a more informed discourse on Nigeria’s energy sector.