The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd) has defended the performance of its Group Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Bayo Ojulari, pointing to sustained increases in crude oil and natural gas production as proof of effective leadership.
​Issuing a formal communication on Saturday, August 8, 2026, from its corporate headquarters in Abuja, the state energy firm responded to recent critical commentary by the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF).
The industry group had raised concerns regarding NNPC Ltd’s executive oversight during the petroleum asset bidding exercise overseen by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
​Clarifying the company’s position, Chief Corporate Communications Officer Andy Odeh highlighted that NNPC Ltd welcomes public evaluation as part of its commitment to commercial governance.
However, he emphasized that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, regulatory functions and oil block allocations reside exclusively with the NUPRC. As a commercial venture, NNPC Ltd maintains no statutory authority over licensing rounds or upstream acreage awards.
​To address claims regarding management effectiveness, NNPC Ltd published operational figures reflecting growth across its core production metrics over a 12-month period: Daily production expanded from 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) in April 2025 to 1.67 mbpd in April 2026, marking a gain of 80,000 barrels per day (6% growth).
Average gas production rose from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd by April 2026, recording a 5% increase (an additional 375 mmscfd).
​NNPC Ltd noted that these figures are fully documented in its published Monthly Performance Reports, reaffirming that Engr. Ojulari’s administration remains focused on optimizing operational efficiency, deepening domestic gas commercialization, and creating value for stakeholders.
