Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) announced that achieving 3 million barrels per day is within reach.
This projection was shared by Olufemi Soneye, NNPC’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, during a recent Stakeholders Engagement Session with National Assembly journalists.
According to Soneye, the potential for increased production can be attributed to the political will demonstrated by President Bola Tinubu, who has issued directives to relevant security agencies to combat oil theft and pipeline vandalism. These efforts have contributed to a rise in daily oil production from 1.4 million to 1.7 million barrels.
Soneye emphasized that achieving 3 million barrels of oil production per day requires synergy among all stakeholders, including government agencies, private security companies, oil firms, and host communities.
He noted that with collaborative efforts against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, an enabling environment can be created to support optimal oil production levels of 2.5 to 3 million barrels per day.
Murtala Muhammad, Deputy Manager at the NNPC Command and Control Centre, presented data showing that over 8,000 illegal refineries and 5,800 illegal oil pipeline connections had been detected and destroyed in the last six months.
The states of Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, and Abia were identified as hotspots for this criminal activity.
The issue of oil theft had previously led to a significant decline in production, plummeting to 900,000 barrels per day. However, efforts by private security agencies and the military have helped alleviate concerns.
Professor Taiye Obateru, in a separate presentation, stressed the importance of fairness and national interest in all journalistic endeavors, highlighting the crucial role of the National Assembly Press Corps in balanced reporting and nation-building.
