Abuja, Nigeria – The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has publicly called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC Ltd.) to offer a comprehensive explanation to Nigerians regarding the operational status of the nation’s oil refineries. His demand underscores the pressing need for transparency amidst public skepticism and calls for accountability.
Speaking during an interview on Channels Television’s ‘Politics Today’ on Tuesday, Lokpobiri directly addressed criticisms that the public had been misinformed about the refineries’ performance. He affirmed the necessity of transparency, stating his intention to summon NNPC representatives. “I will tell them to come. Let them come and explain,” the Minister asserted, promising to facilitate a direct interface.
The Minister’s remarks followed the program host’s insistence that Nigerians are entitled to clear answers, particularly given prior claims about the refineries reaching full operational capacity that have since been questioned. Lokpobiri stressed the importance of obtaining factual information before making any conclusions, cautioning against hasty judgments based on assumptions. “It is better for us to have the full facts about these refineries so that we do not make any hasty conclusions,” he advised.
Increased Oil Production Reported
Beyond the refinery discussions, Minister Lokpobiri also provided an update on Nigeria’s oil production, announcing a significant increase. According to figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the country’s average daily production, including condensates, has reached approximately 1.84 million barrels. The government is actively working towards further boosting this output, with an ambitious target of surpassing 2 million barrels per day.
However, the Minister highlighted that a significant challenge impeding greater production lies in the nation’s ageing infrastructure. Many of Nigeria’s crucial pipelines, he explained, are over 50 years old, posing a substantial hurdle to efficiently evacuate additional crude oil even when production levels rise. “The reason why we are not able to do more than this is because of the state of our infrastructure,” Lokpobiri noted.
To address this critical issue, NNPC has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the pipeline network, a move expected to progressively enhance evacuation capacity. Furthermore, Lokpobiri mentioned that operators are actively bringing previously shut-in oil wells back into production through strategic re-entry programs. This includes developments following recent asset transfers, such as Shell’s former assets now managed by Renaissance Africa Energy and Seplat’s acquisition of ExxonMobil’s onshore business, signaling renewed efforts to optimize the nation’s oil output.