The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has defended the performance of its management under Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, following criticism linked to the recently concluded oil licensing round conducted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The company, in a statement, said it has continued to record growth in crude oil and gas production, describing the trend as evidence of its transformation into a commercially driven and globally competitive energy company.
The statement followed recent comments attributed to the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which questioned the performance of NNPC’s leadership in relation to the licensing round.
NNPC said while it welcomes scrutiny of its operations, it considered it necessary to clarify issues surrounding the licensing process and the company’s production performance.
On the licensing round, the company explained that NNPC Ltd does not have the authority to conduct licensing rounds or allocate oil blocks.
It said the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 places responsibility for conducting licensing rounds and allocating oil blocks on the NUPRC.
“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),” the company said.
It added that NNPC Ltd has operated as a commercial entity since its incorporation and “holds no regulatory or allocative authority.”
The company also highlighted improvements in crude oil production under its current leadership.
According to NNPC, average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd), including condensate, in April 2025. By April 2026, production had increased to 1.67 mbpd, representing an increase of about 80,000 barrels per day or approximately six per cent.
The company said the figures were contained in its publicly available Monthly Performance Report.
NNPC also reported an increase in gas production during the same period.
It said average gas production rose from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd by April 2026, representing five per cent growth.
According to the company, the increase in gas production is contributing to domestic energy security as well as Nigeria’s export commitments.
NNPC said it would continue to make information on its operations and performance available to the public as part of its commitment to transparency and accountability.
However, the company warned that it would take necessary steps to protect its reputation and that of its leadership against what it described as false or unsubstantiated claims.
It urged industry stakeholders, analysts and professional associations to verify information through relevant regulatory and corporate channels before making public statements.
NNPC said such verification would help ensure that commentary on the sector remains factual, balanced and constructive.
