Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) Engr. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, has attributed the growth of crude oil production in the country in the last four years to improved security of oil pipelines in the Niger Delta.
He said the establishment of the integrated energy security for pipelines in the Niger Delta has effectively tackled the twin menace of oil theft and pipeline sabotage, leading to a significant increase in oil output from a historic low of 960,000 barrels per day in 2022 to an average of 1.71 million barrels per day and a peak production of 1.84 million barrels per day in 2025.
Ojulari stated this during the Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipelines Security which held at the National Assembly, in Abuja, on Wednesday, April 8.
According to a statement issued by the Chief Corporate Communications Officer, NNPC, Andy Odeh, Ojulari explained that the success recorded was not accidental. Ojulari said it involved what he described as an “integrated energy security model that combines legislative and executive policy alignment, actionable intelligence, kinetic deployment capabilities, regulatory oversight, industry cooperation, and community‑embedded surveillance mechanisms.”
The NNPC GCEO further noted that the development has led to the restoration of investors’ confidence in the nation’s oil and gas sector.
In his welcome address, the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, represented by Senator Jimoh Ibrahim, called for collaboration among agencies and stakeholders in resolving all challenges impeding oil production growth.
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On his part, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, who was represented by the Leader of the House, Hon. (Prof.) Julius Ihonvbere, urged the forum to evaluate the progress made so far with a view to ensuring fairness and equity.
The Parliamentary Roundtable on the State of Pipelines Security was convened by the Joint Senate and House of Representatives Committee on Petroleum Resources. It had in attendance the Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives, National Security Adviser, Minister of Defence, and representatives of oil industry regulatory agencies.
The Roundtable also featured presentations by the Chief of Defence Staff, Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services, Commandant General of the Nigerian Security and Civil Defense Corps, and private security companies.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X
