Nigeria’s Defense Minister, Bello Matawalle, forecasts a surge in the country’s crude oil production to 1.9 million barrels per day by December 2023. Emphasizing the government’s commitment to combating oil theft, Matawalle notes a decline in such activities, attributing the increase in production to government initiatives and military operations against oil thieves.
“Due to oil theft in the Niger Delta, production had dropped to one million barrels per day, but with Federal Government interventions and military actions, we anticipate reaching 1.9 million barrels per day by year-end. Operations have been conducted, illegal panels destroyed, arrests made, and collaborative efforts continue,” he asserted.
The report cites data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), indicating October’s crude oil production at 1.5 million barrels per day. However, data from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) reveals 227 cases of crude oil theft on October 28 and November 3.
