Imo State Governor Hope Uzodimma, who chairs the Crude Oil Theft and Management Committee, has confirmed that the committee is collaborating with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to boost crude oil production, with a target of reaching three million barrels per day as set by President Bola Tinubu. Speaking to journalists in Abuja on August 30, 2025, after a closed-door meeting with oil-producing state governors, NNPCL officials, and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Uzodimma highlighted early signs of progress, noting an encouraging upward trend in output. He credited this to collective efforts involving industry management, security agencies, and state-level actors, with the meeting serving as a platform to align strategies and receive updates from NNPCL’s new leadership under Bayo Ojulari.
The initiative builds on recent developments, as NNPCL has reported nearing 100 percent production capacity thanks to strengthened security partnerships, a stark contrast to past losses from pipeline vandalism and theft. Uzodimma emphasized that Friday’s discussions focused on refining work plans to sustain this momentum, with plans for further engagement to meet the national target. He also praised Tinubu’s reforms in the oil sector, suggesting they are beginning to yield results, though challenges like sophisticated theft syndicates remain a concern. The collaboration aims to not only increase revenue but also address environmental and economic impacts in oil-producing regions, though details on specific timelines or community benefits were not fully disclosed.
