By Firdaus Jibril
NNPC Limited has clarified that it has no regulatory or allocative authority over oil licensing rounds, stating that the responsibility rests solely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The company made the clarification in a statement issued on Saturday in response to recent media commentary questioning the performance of its leadership regarding the recently concluded oil licensing round conducted by NUPRC.
According to NNPC, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 places the conduct of oil licensing rounds and the allocation of oil blocks strictly under the statutory mandate of the NUPRC.
The company stated that since its incorporation, it has operated as a commercial entity without regulatory or allocative powers.
NNPC also highlighted an increase in crude oil production under its current leadership, reporting that average crude oil production stood at 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd), including condensate, in April 2025.
It noted that production increased through the second half of 2025 and reached 1.67 mbpd, including condensate, by April 2026 representing an increase of about 80,000 barrels per day, or a 6 per cent growth.
The company stated that these figures were drawn from its publicly available Monthly Performance Report.
NNPC further reported growth in gas production, which increased from an average of 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) in April 2025 to 7,729 mmscfd by April 2026, representing a 5 per cent growth.
According to the company, this increase in gas production supports Nigeria’s domestic energy security and export commitments.
NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to transparency and open engagement regarding its performance and operations.
The company also urged industry commentators, analysts, and professional associations to verify information through appropriate regulatory and corporate channels prior to publication.