Di Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) don reject allegations of impropriety and poor performance wey dem levelled against di management by di Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF). Di company tok say im crude oil and gas production don record sustained growth under di Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO), Bayo Ojulari.
NNPC also clarify say e no get regulatory or allocative powers over oil licensing rounds. According to di company, di conduct of licensing rounds and allocation of oil blocks na statutory responsibilities of di Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Dis statement follow allegations by OGPF, wey call on federal government to investigate di leadership and operations of both NNPC over wetin dem describe as transparency concerns surrounding production performance, licensing procedures, and contract awards.
Di forum, for statement wey im convener, Ayodele Momoh sign, allege possible insider influence and uneven application of rules for di marginal fields licensing process. Dem also call for di removal of Ojulari as NNPC GCEO. Di group raise questions over alleged relationships involving persons wey dey close to di NNPC leadership and companies wey reportedly benefit from licensing outcomes.
Di group also ask weda oil production don improve materially since di change for leadership at NNPC. Dem allege say output remain below di widely cited 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) benchmark.
However, for statement wey im Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh issue, NNPC say di allegations no reflect di company im statutory responsibilities or im operational performance. Di company quote di Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, say oil licensing rounds and allocation of oil blocks na statutory mandate of NUPRC.
NNPC Limited, since im incorporation, don operate strictly as commercial entity and no get regulatory or allocative authority, di national oil firm state.
Di company say im production performance contradict claims say di current management fail to improve output. According to NNPC, average crude oil production stand at 1.60 million bpd, including condensate, for April 2025. By April 2026, di figure rise to 1.67 mbpd. Quoting im Monthly Performance Report, di company say di increase of about 80,000 bpd represent approximately 6 per cent growth.
NNPC also state say im gas production increase during di period under review. Average gas production rise from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) for April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd for April 2026, representing approximately five per cent growth. Di increase reflect expanding gas output to support domestic energy security and Nigeria im gas export commitments.
NNPC say e welcome scrutiny of im operations and performance, consistent with transparency and accountability wey di company hold itself to. But e important to set di record straight on di specific claims raised.
Di company urge industry commentators, analysts, and professional associations to verify information through appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before making public claims about im operations. Dis go help ensure say public commentary be factual, balanced, and dey contribute constructively to informed discourse on di Nigerian energy sector.
NNPC further state say e remain committed to transparency and go continue to engage openly on issues concerning im performance and operations. At di same time, di national oil company say e reserve di right to take necessary steps to protect im reputation and dat of im leadership against wetin e describe as false or unsubstantiated claims.
