The Nigerian government says its encountered problems on the Trans Niger Pipeline and other maintenance activities are the reason for the drop in crude oil production in the first quarter of 2024.
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed this on Friday through a statement by his Media Aide, Nneamaka Okafor.
The Minister was reacting to the drop in crude oil production in March
to 1.23 million barrels per day from 1.32 million bpd in February.
“In response to recent concerns regarding a shortfall in oil production in Nigeria during the first quarter of 2024, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resource (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, assures (Nigerians) that measures are being taken to address the situation to, not only restore production to previous levels but also to increase it.
“The Minister clarifies that the reported production shortfall was primarily due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some oil companies operating in Nigeria.
“The minister is also pleased to announce that the issues have been adequately addressed, and production is expected to return to its previous levels in the coming days.”
OsunDailyNG recalls that the monthly report of the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, showed that Libya displaced Nigeria as Africa’s largest crude production country in March.
