Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Bello Matawalle has assured that the country’s oil production will reach 1.9 million barrels per day by year-end.
He said this during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He reiterated the federal government’s commitment to the fight against crude oil theft as a solution to increasing crude oil production in the country, pointing out that following the efforts by the government, crude oil theft is no longer as prevalent as it used to be.
“Before now, due to oil theft activities in the Niger Delta region, oil production dropped to about one million barrels per day. But with the Federal Government’s actions and the onslaught of the combined military against oil thieves, production has increased.
“We are hoping that at the end of this year, we will reach about 1.9 million barrels per day. We are taking serious action; operations have been conducted in that area.
“Most of the illegal panels were destroyed, most of the people were arrested and, with the level we are today, we are okay. We work together by sharing intelligence, we shall continue working together.”
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows that as of October 2023, the country’s crude oil production was 1.5 million barrels per day.
Between October 28 and November 3, the country recorded 227 cases of crude oil theft, higher than the 144 cases recorded in the previous
