The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) and Tantita Security Services Nigeria Limited (TSSNL) have garnered widespread praise following the nation’s crude oil production reaching 1.8 million barrels per day (bpd).
In a recent announcement, NNPCL’s board and management reported this achievement along with a rise in gas production, now at 7.4 billion standard cubic feet per day (bscfd).
Industry stakeholders have commended NNPCL and the private security firms tasked with protecting the nation’s economic interests, particularly Tantita, for this significant accomplishment. Tantita has been instrumental in combating crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism, effectively driving oil thieves away from Nigeria’s coast and confiscating their illicit equipment.
Reports indicate that many oil thieves have abandoned their illegal activities due to the relentless efforts of Tantita’s security operatives stationed along the Niger Delta coastline. These collaborative initiatives with various state actors have played a pivotal role in the recent uptick in crude oil and gas production.
Tantita has implemented strict measures to deter oil theft, aiming to achieve a crude oil production target of 2 million bpd by the end of December in partnership with other industry stakeholders.
NNPCL’s Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) highlighted this milestone during a press briefing, attributing the success to the directives of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Kyari praised the Production War Room Team for their significant contributions to the production recovery process.
“The team has excelled in not only recovering production but also in elevating it to levels deemed acceptable by our shareholders, in alignment with the mandates from the President, the Honourable Minister, and the Board,” Kyari remarked.
Elaborating on the achievements of the Production War Room, Mr. Lawal Musa, Chief War Room Coordinator and Senior Business Adviser to the GCEO, noted that the production increase resulted from collaborative efforts with Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract partners, the Office of the National Security Adviser, as well as various government and private security agencies.
He explained that the initiatives leading to this production recovery spanned the entire production chain, with security agencies closely monitoring pipelines. When the Production War Room was established on June 25, 2024, production stood at 1.430 mbpd; however, their swift interventions boosted it to 1.7 mbpd in August and now to 1.808 mbpd in November.
“We are optimistic that with this momentum and the active cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly regarding security, reaching 2 million bpd by year-end is achievable,” he added.
It is noteworthy that Chief Government Ekpemupolo, known as Tompolo, Chairman of TSSNL, recently pledged to enhance daily crude oil production and bolster national revenue during an award ceremony hosted by the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ).
“I have a deep commitment to my country, Nigeria, and will do everything possible to ensure an increase in crude oil production,” Tompolo stated.
Expressing his enthusiasm about the recent achievement, Tompolo, through his Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Mr. Paul Bebenimibo, reaffirmed Tantita’s dedication to meeting the 2 million bpd target by December, as directed by President Tinubu.
“This milestone was accomplished through the cooperative efforts of NNPCL, security forces, and Tantita, which has taken the lead in safeguarding oil pipelines in the Niger Delta. We are determined to reach the 2 million bpd mark before the year concludes, as mandated by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” Tompolo emphasized.
He assured that all necessary measures are being implemented to achieve this target, which would significantly enhance the Nigerian economy and increase government revenue, providing more resources for effective governance.
“New technologies are being deployed to monitor our facilities to prevent disruptions and halt the theft of Nigeria’s resources. We are committed to working diligently to elevate production to 2 million bpd and beyond by year-end, by God’s grace,” Tompolo concluded through Bebenimibo.
