Oil theft won’t deter our 3m barrel goal —NNPCL

By Christiana Ekpa

The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) has set an ambitious target to increase Nigeria’s crude oil production to 3 million barrels per day, up from the current 1.7 million barrels, according to the company’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO), Mr. Olufemi Soneye.
Speaking at a Stakeholders Engagement Session with journalists covering the National Assembly on Saturday in Abuja, Mr. Soneye expressed optimism, stating, “The production goal is achievable with concerted efforts from all relevant stakeholders, including security agencies, oil companies, and host communities. With synergy, we can reach 3 million barrels per day.”
He attributed the progress already made to the political will demonstrated by President Bola Tinubu, who has issued directives to security agencies to curb the twin challenges of oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
“These efforts have already borne fruit,” Mr. Soneye said. “We’ve seen daily production increase from 1.4 million barrels to 1.7 million barrels. This is a significant achievement, but there’s still more to be done.”
Soneye underscored that a secure and conducive environment is crucial for scaling up production. “An enabling environment, free of oil theft and vandalism, is critical to reaching this target. We can’t reach our goals if these issues persist.”
Recalling a period of alarmingly low production levels, he said, “There was a time when oil production plummeted to 900,000 barrels per day due to rampant oil theft and pipeline sabotage. At that time, we feared Nigeria was in serious trouble. But with the renewed efforts of the military and the involvement of private security agencies, we have been able to stem the tide, and our fears have been allayed.”
A detailed presentation by Murtala Muhammad, Deputy Manager at the NNPC Command and Control Centre, highlighted the grave impact of oil theft on the country’s economy. He revealed, “In the past six months, over 8,000 illegal refineries and 5,800 unauthorized pipeline connections were discovered and destroyed.” According to him, hotspots for these illegal activities include Bayelsa, Rivers, Imo, and Abia States.
In a related session, Professor Taiye Obateru, a guest speaker, delivered a paper on Balancing Reporting and Nation Building: The Role of National Assembly Press Corps. He emphasized the importance of fairness in journalism, urging the press corps to ensure their stories contribute to the country’s development.
“As journalists, it’s crucial that we promote the national interest while maintaining objectivity. Our reporting must strike a balance between highlighting challenges and fostering national unity.”
NNPCL’s commitment to scaling up oil production comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s economy, which heavily relies on oil revenue. The success of this initiative will largely depend on continued collaboration between government agencies, private security firms, and local communities to tackle the persistent issues of oil theft and infrastructure sabotage.