Tayo Busayo, Abuja
DAILY COURIER - The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) has announced a significant milestone in Nigeria’s crude oil and gas production, reaching 1.8 million barrels per day (mbpd) and 7.4 standard cubic feet per day (scfd) in gas output.
The achievement, disclosed in a press briefing on Thursday, aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s mandate to boost the nation’s energy sector.
Mele Kyari, NNPC’s Group Chief Executive Officer, praised the company’s Production War Room Team for leading the production recovery. Kyari highlighted the team’s efficiency in not only recovering production but also surpassing previous levels to meet both immediate and long-term expectations. “The team has done a great job... based on the mandates that we have from the President, the Honourable Minister, and the Board,” Kyari stated.
The company’s current production boost reflects a coordinated effort involving Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, and various government and private security agencies. Mr. Lawal Musa, Chief War Room Coordinator and Senior Business Adviser to the GCEO, detailed the approach taken, which involved close security monitoring of pipeline infrastructures to minimize disruptions. Musa explained that when the War Room team was inaugurated on June 25, 2024, daily production stood at 1.430 mbpd. By August, production had climbed to 1.7 mbpd, with November marking the 1.808 mbpd milestone.
Looking ahead, Musa expressed confidence in maintaining the current momentum to achieve the company’s year-end target of 2 mbpd. “With the active collaboration of all stakeholders, especially on the security front, we can see the possibility of getting to 2 mbpd by the end of the year,” he added.
Chairman of the NNPC Ltd. Board of Directors, Chief Pius Akinyelure, also commended the team, describing his sense of pride in the production recovery progress. He urged NNPC’s management to prepare cashflow projections based on the new production levels, which he believes will be instrumental in planning future expansions. Akinyelure expressed hope for production levels to rise even further, with an eye on the ambitious target of 3 mbpd.
Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), conveyed the Federal Government’s commitment to supporting NNPC’s efforts, affirming the administration’s satisfaction with the progress made so far and pledging ongoing support to sustain this momentum.
This development reflects NNPC Ltd.’s renewed efforts to fortify Nigeria’s oil sector, optimize revenue, and strengthen national energy security, setting a promising trajectory for both the company and the nation’s economy as it heads toward the year-end production target.
