ABUJA — State oil firm NNPC Limited has rejected criticism over the outcome of Nigeria’s recent offshore licensing round, clarifying that it holds no regulatory power to allocate oil blocks under current energy laws. The response follows commentary from an industry body, the Oil and Gas Professionals Forum (OGPF), which raised questions regarding the performance of the company’s executive leadership led by Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari.
In a press statement released on Saturday, NNPC spokesperson Andy Odeh noted that under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, the authority to conduct licensing rounds and award blocks rests solely with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The state firm stated that since its incorporation as a commercial entity, it operates without regulatory or allocative oversight. Addressing operational performance, the company cited official data showing a 6% increase in crude oil production—including condensate—rising from 1.60 million barrels per day (mbpd) in April 2025 to 1.67 mbpd by April 2026. Gas output also expanded over the same period, growing by 5% from 7,354 million standard cubic feet per day (mmscfd) to 7,729 mmscfd.
The energy company urged industry commentators to verify operational data through regulatory and corporate channels, adding that it reserves the right to protect its reputation against unsubstantiated claims.
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