The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) says it is close to achieving 100 per cent crude oil production capacity, following strengthened collaboration with security and intelligence agencies.
Group Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Bayo Ojulari, announced this on Monday at the opening of the maiden African Chiefs of Defence Staff Summit in Abuja.
He said Nigeria’s crude oil receipts had once dropped to as low as 20–30 per cent due to vandalism, theft, illegal refineries and sabotage, but have now recovered significantly.
“Today, I can proudly report to you all that our production and receipts are now attaining close to 100 per cent, thanks to the professionalism, discipline and collaborative spirit of our security and intelligence agencies, particularly in stabilising the Niger Delta,” Ojulari said.
The NNPCL boss credited the improvement to joint patrols, intelligence-driven interventions and military operations securing critical energy infrastructure. He, however, warned that oil theft was also driven by international criminal syndicates, not just local actors, urging greater regional and continental cooperation on energy security.
Ojulari reaffirmed NNPCL’s commitment to supporting defence institutions, stressing that safeguarding Africa’s resources was vital for peace and prosperity.
The summit, themed “Combating Contemporary Threats to Regional Peace and Security in Africa: The Role of Strategic Defence Collaboration”, drew representatives from 36 countries. President Bola Tinubu was represented by Vice President Kashim Shettima, while UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed delivered the keynote address.
