Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, has disputed OPEC’s data on Nigeria’s oil production, insisting that the country produced 1.7 million barrels of crude oil daily, including condensates, in the past year. Lokpobiri clarified that OPEC’s figures do not account for condensates, which are included in the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) total volume of oil production.
Speaking at an energy summit in Abuja, Lokpobiri emphasized the ministry’s focus on increasing production. He noted that Nigeria’s current production of 1.7 million barrels per day, including condensates, is a significant increase from the 1 million barrels per day recorded when he assumed office a year ago.
Lokpobiri reaffirmed Nigeria’s commitment to OPEC membership, stating that the country has no plans to exit the organization. Instead, Nigeria aims to advocate for an increase in its production quota to approximately 2 to 3 million barrels per day. He also revealed that he had advised Angola against leaving OPEC before its departure.
The minister’s comments highlight the importance of accurate data in understanding Nigeria’s oil production and the country’s efforts to increase its output and advocate for a higher production quota within OPEC.
