The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has defended the performance of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, dismissing recent criticisms over the outcome of the recently concluded oil licensing round conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
On Saturday, in a statement issued by its Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, NNPC Ltd. said the company had continued to record steady growth in crude oil and gas production, describing the development as evidence of its transformation into a fully commercial and globally competitive energy company.
The statement followed recent media commentary attributed to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which questioned the performance of the NNPC Ltd. leadership under Ojulari, particularly in connection with the recently concluded oil licensing round.
NNPC Ltd. said while it welcomed scrutiny of its operations and performance, in line with its commitment to transparency and accountability, it was necessary to clarify what it described as misconceptions surrounding the licensing round and the responsibilities of the institutions involved in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
According to the company, the conduct of oil licensing rounds and the allocation of oil blocks are statutory responsibilities of the NUPRC under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
“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),” NNPC Ltd. stated.
The company stressed that since its incorporation, it had operated strictly as a commercial entity and had no regulatory or allocative authority. It said the clarification was necessary to distinguish NNPC Ltd.’s commercial responsibilities from the regulatory and allocative functions assigned to the NUPRC by the PIA.
On crude oil production, NNPC Ltd. said publicly available data showed a clear and sustained improvement in output under the current leadership. Average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd), inclusive of condensate, as of April 2025, the company said.
According to NNPC Ltd., output increased during the second half of 2025 and stabilised at 1.67 million barrels per day, inclusive of condensate, by April 2026. The company said the increase of approximately 80,000 barrels per day represented six per cent growth within the period.
NNPC Ltd. added that the figures were documented in its publicly available Monthly Performance Report.
The company also reported growth in gas production, saying average output increased from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd by April 2026.
The increase represents five per cent growth in gas production, according to the company.
NNPC Ltd. said the growth was an indication of expanding gas output to support Nigeria’s domestic energy security and export commitments.
The company maintained that its production figures provided an objective basis for assessing its operational performance and urged stakeholders to rely on verified information when evaluating its activities. NNPC Ltd. reiterated its commitment to transparency and said it would continue to engage openly on matters concerning its performance and operations.
However, the company said it reserved the right to take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against the publication of what it described as false or unsubstantiated claims. It urged industry commentators, analysts and professional associations to verify information through appropriate regulatory and corporate channels before publication.
According to NNPC Ltd., this would help ensure that public commentary remains factual, balanced and constructive, while contributing to informed discourse on the Nigerian energy sector.
