The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd. (NNPC Ltd.) has clarified that responsibility for conducting oil licensing rounds and allocating oil blocks rests with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), not the national oil company.
The clarification came in response to recent media reports attributed to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which questioned the performance of NNPC Ltd. under its Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari.
In a statement issued in Abuja on Saturday, NNPC Ltd.’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Andy Odeh, said the company’s role under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 is distinct from that of the upstream petroleum regulator.
Odeh explained that the PIA assigns the responsibility for oil licensing rounds and the allocation of oil blocks to the NUPRC.
He stressed that NNPC Ltd. has operated as a commercial entity since its incorporation and does not have regulatory or oil-block allocation powers.
Rather than focusing on the licensing process, Odeh said the company’s performance should also be assessed against its production figures and other commercial operations.
According to him, crude oil production has recorded steady growth under the current management led by Ojulari.
NNPC Ltd. said average crude oil output, including condensate, stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) in April 2025.
The company said production subsequently increased during the second half of 2025 before reaching and stabilising at approximately 1.67 million barrels per day by April 2026.
The increase represents about 80,000 barrels per day, translating to roughly 6 per cent growth, according to the company.
Odeh said the figures were contained in NNPC Ltd.’s publicly available Monthly Performance Report.
The national oil company also reported an increase in natural gas production during the same period.
Gas output reportedly climbed from an average of 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd in April 2026.
NNPC Ltd. said the figures represented a 5 per cent increase in gas production, adding that the growth would help support domestic energy needs and the country’s export commitments.
The company reiterated its willingness to engage with industry stakeholders and provide information concerning its operations and performance.
Odeh, however, urged industry analysts, professional groups and other commentators to confirm information through appropriate channels before making public claims about NNPC Ltd.
He said proper verification was necessary to ensure that discussions about Nigeria’s oil and gas industry remained factual, balanced and constructive.
NNPC Ltd. also stated that it reserves the right to take appropriate action to protect the reputation of the company and its leadership against claims it considers false or unsubstantiated.
The clarification comes amid continuing scrutiny of Nigeria’s oil sector, including production performance, upstream investment and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
