Nigeria’s crude oil production has surged to over 1.7 million barrels per day, up from less than 800,000 barrels daily before May 2023, following coordinated efforts by the National Economic Council (NEC) Ad-Hoc Committee on Crude Oil Theft Prevention and Control, chaired by Imo State Governor Hope Uzodinma.
Speaking after presenting an interim report to the Council on Thursday at the Presidential Villa, Uzodinma said the committee’s work with critical stakeholders including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), the Navy, and other security agencies has significantly reduced oil theft and pipeline vandalism nationwide.
He explained that the committee’s collaborative strategy involved governors of oil-producing states and regulators across the energy sector to strengthen monitoring and security operations in oil-producing regions.
“Before May 29, 2023, our crude oil production was around 700,000 to 800,000 barrels a day. Today, I’m glad to report that daily production now exceeds 1.7 million barrels,” Uzodinma stated. “The cases of pipeline vandalization and destruction of oil assets have also declined sharply.”
The Imo governor added that the Council expressed satisfaction with the committee’s progress and has now expanded its Terms of Reference to include the protection and monitoring of solid mineral resources such as gold and other valuable deposits, which are often illegally mined and smuggled out of the country.
“Our solid minerals are being mined and stolen without adding to national revenue,” he said. “Going forward, our committee will work with other agencies to ensure the country benefits fully from these resources.”
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Uzodinma disclosed that the committee has recommended that the NNPC, in partnership with security agencies and private security consultants, should intensify surveillance in oil-rich creeks and extend security coverage to offshore zones to prevent illegal vessel movements around export terminals.
He assured that the committee would sustain efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s natural resources, emphasizing that increased oil and gas output is crucial to achieving President Bola Tinubu’s economic prosperity agenda.
“The prosperity that the President promised is gradually becoming a reality,” Uzodinma affirmed. “We will continue to work hard to protect our national assets and ensure our natural wealth benefits every Nigerian.”