Lokpobiri Demands NNPC Clarification on Refineries' Status

Heineken Lokpobiri, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, has requested the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited to provide an explanation regarding the current state of Nigeria’s refineries. During an interview on Channels Television’s Politics Today, Lokpobiri stated that Nigerians deserve to know the facts about the refineries, especially in light of conflicting claims about their performance.

He emphasized the importance of establishing the facts before drawing conclusions about the refineries' operations. Additionally, Lokpobiri discussed Nigeria's crude oil production, reporting an average output of approximately 1.84 million barrels per day, including condensates, and indicated that the Federal Government aims to increase production beyond two million barrels per day.

He identified ageing infrastructure as a significant challenge to further growth, noting that many pipelines are over 50 years old. To address this, NNPC has initiated a comprehensive overhaul of the pipeline network, which is expected to enhance crude evacuation capacity.

Furthermore, oil operators are working to bring previously shut-in wells back into production.