The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, has called on the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to provide a transparent, detailed explanation to the public regarding the operational status and true output of Nigeria’s state-owned refineries.

 

Speaking during an appearance on Channels Television’s *Politics Today*, Lokpobiri addressed growing public skepticism following conflicting claims about whether rehabilitated facilities had reached full operational capacity.

 

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### "Nigerians Deserve the Full Facts"

 

Responding to questions regarding earlier reports that key refineries were fully operational—only for doubts to emerge over actual fuel delivery—Lokpobiri assured citizens that he would instruct the national oil company to address the nation directly.

 

> *"I will tell them to come. Let them come and explain,"* Lokpobiri stated.

> *"I’ve said here that it is better for us to have the full facts about these refineries so that we don’t make any hasty conclusions."*

 

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### Crude Oil Output Hits 1.84M Barrels Per Day

 

Beyond refining capacity, the minister provided updates on Nigeria's upstream petroleum sector, revealing that daily crude production (including condensates) has risen to approximately **1.84 million barrels per day (bpd)**, according to figures from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

 

While the Federal Government continues to target a benchmark exceeding **2 million bpd**, Lokpobiri identified structural bottlenecks hindering faster growth:

 

* **Aging Pipeline Infrastructure:** Many critical evacuation pipelines across the Niger Delta are over 50 years old, creating frequent leaks and restricting transport capacity even when production increases.

* **Pipeline Overhaul Underway:** NNPC Limited has initiated a comprehensive, modern replacement and rehabilitation program across major pipeline networks to optimize crude delivery to export terminals and domestic refineries.

 

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### Reactivating Shut-In Oil Wells

 

Lokpobiri highlighted that domestic and international oil companies are actively conducting re-entry programs to bring previously shut-in oil wells back online.

 

He attributed this renewed momentum to recent high-profile asset acquisitions and structural transitions in Nigeria's energy landscape, including:

 

1. **Renaissance Africa Energy's** takeover of Shell's former onshore assets.

2. **Seplat Energy's** acquisition of ExxonMobil's shallow-water onshore business.

 

According to the minister, these corporate transitions and operational reinvestments are already providing a steady boost to Nigeria's daily output, positioning the sector for sustained growth once pipeline infrastructure is fully modernized.