We’re Not Responsible For Licensing Round – NNPC
…Says oil, gas production have increased
Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has said that 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).
It added that NNPC Ltd, since its incorporation, has operated strictly as a commercial entity and holds no regulatory or allocative authority.
These were contained in a statement on Saturday by Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC Ltd, Andy Odeh, in response to some media reports
On crude oil production, he stated that publicly available data reflects a clear and sustained improvement in crude oil output under the current leadership.
He added that as of April 2025, average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) inclusive of condensate.
He stated that output rose through the second half of 2025 and stabilised at 1.67 mbpd inclusive of condensate by April 2026. He added that this is an increase of approximately 80 thousand barrels per day, which represents 6% growth.
According to him, these figures are documented in NNPC Ltd’s Monthly Performance Report, which is available to the public.
Responding on gas production, Odeh said the company’s gas production has recorded similar growth.
He explained that as of April 2025, gas production averaged 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd).
He added that 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. He noted that again, these figures are documented in the publicly available NNPC Limited’s Monthly Performance Report.
Odeh said: “NNPC Ltd continues to record steady growth in national crude oil and gas production, reinforcing the company’s transformation into a fully commercial, globally competitive energy company.
“Against this backdrop of demonstrable progress, the company has noted 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).
“While NNPC Limited welcomes scrutiny of its operations and performance, consistent with the transparency and accountability the Company holds itself to, it is important to set the record straight on the specific claims raised.”
He added: “NNPC Ltd remains committed to operating with transparency and will continue to engage openly on matters concerning the Company’s performance and operations. The Company also reserves the right to take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against publication of false or unsubstantiated claims.
“We encourage industry commentators, analysts, and professional associations to verify information through the appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before publication.
“This will help ensure that public commentary is factual, balanced, and contributes constructively to informed discourse on the Nigerian energy sector.”
