NEWS
Global Demand for Nigerian Crude Higher Outstrips Supply – FG
The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has disclosed that the United States, Europe and countries in the Middle East are increasingly seeking Nigerian crude oil, but the country does not yet have sufficient production to meet the growing international demand.
Lokpobiri vented this on Wednesday in Abuja at the ongoing Nigeria Oil and Gas Energy Week, adding that Nigeria’s improving oil output has renewed global interest in its crude.
The situation is compounded because of growing complaints from local refiners that they are not getting enough domestic feedstock for their plants.
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According to Lokpobiri, “The pressure is even more on me because of what has happened in the Gulf region.”
He pointed out that there is increasing demand for Nigerian crude from across the world. “I receive delegations from across the world, from the USA, from Europe, and from the Middle East. Everybody comes to me because they want to do business with Nigeria. They want to buy Nigerian oil. Unfortunately, we don’t have enough to sell to them,” Lokpobiri said.
He, however, assured prospective buyers that the Federal Government was implementing policies aimed at significantly increasing crude production over the next few years.
“But I promise them that in the next few years, Nigeria will be able to increase our production through the ambitious programmes we are pursuing, and we will be able to meet some of those obligations to those countries,” he added.
The minister disclosed that Nigeria’s crude oil production, including condensate, has risen above 1.8 million barrels per day, compared to about one million barrels per day when the current administration assumed office in 2023.
He cited the latest weekly production report submitted by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), as indicating that the country is now producing more than 1.8 million barrels daily.
“When I became minister in 2023, the president told me it was unacceptable for Nigeria to be producing one million barrels per day. I made a commitment that we would remove the bottlenecks and work together as a team to change the story. Today, the latest report from NUPRC shows we are doing over 1.8 million barrels per day, inclusive of condensate,” he said.
Despite the improvement, Lokpobiri insisted that the current output remains inadequate, maintaining that Nigeria has the capacity to return to its previous production peak of 2.5 million barrels per day.
“I’ve also told them that 1.8 million barrels is not enough. We’ve done 2.5 million barrels in this country before, so we can do it again. What we need is to work together under the right circumstances,” he stated.
The minister attributed the production recovery to renewed investment in the upstream sector, revealing that the number of active drilling rigs has increased from about 14 in 2023 to more than 60. “That is what will guarantee future growth in the industry. This is where the new barrels will come from,” he said.
Lokpobiri also credited President Bola Tinubu’s approval of the divestment of onshore assets by international oil companies for boosting indigenous participation in the sector.
He disclosed that indigenous operators, including Renaissance Africa Energy, Seplat Energy and Oando, now account for more than 60 per cent of Nigeria’s daily crude production following their acquisitions of assets previously owned by Shell, ExxonMobil and ENI.
“Today, the independents account for over 60 per cent of our daily production of 1.8 million barrels per day. They are just starting. This is only the beginning of what patriotic Nigerian companies can do,” he said.
According to him, the divestments have also enabled the international oil companies to concentrate on deepwater operations, where they possess stronger technical expertise, while opening fresh opportunities to grow Nigeria’s reserves and production.
Lokpobiri also disclosed that Renaissance had recorded a significant offshore oil discovery in OML 74 following an aggressive exploration campaign, describing the development as further evidence that sustained exploration would help Nigeria unlock additional reserves and strengthen future production.
A road accident, involving a tanker truck conveying petroleum products opposite the Odukpani Local Government Secretariat, Cross River State, ignited a fire, leading to the destruction of several shops and affecting vehicles.
These transpired on Sunday, when the tanker accidentally overturned which led to the fire that spread to nearby shops and buildings.
Fortunately, the tanker driver was rescued and taken to a hospital for medical attention.
Confirming the incident, the Cross River State Police Command said that officers from the Odukpani Division were deployed to the scene to secure the area and prevent further harm.
The Command said the Fire Service had also been alerted and was expected to deploy personnel to contain and extinguish the fire.
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As of the time of filing this report, no death has been confirmed.
However, the police said a number of shops and vehicles had been affected by the inferno.
The Command urged residents and motorists to keep away from the immediate area and allow emergency responders unhindered access to the scene.
It also advised members of the public to exercise caution around the area because of the risk posed by the burning petroleum tanker.
The Police Public Relations Officer, ASP Eitokpah Sunday Akata, said further updates would be released as verified information became available.
Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) President, Joe Ajaero, has accused the administration of President Bola Tinubu of failing to meaningfully engage with organised labour, alleging that the government has remained aloof despite repeated attempts to open dialogue.
Ajaero made the remarks during an appearance on the Mic On Podcast, where he spoke about the relationship between the labour movement and the Federal Government over the past few years.
According to the NLC president, the government has not been engaging with labour and only responds when workers and other groups take steps to force its attention.
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“For the past two, three years, you know, it’s not a government that is engaging. This government doesn’t engage,” Ajaero said.
He described the administration as “aloof”, stressing that meaningful engagement had been lacking between the government and organised labour.
Ajaero recalled that the NLC had, by December 17, 2025, announced plans to take its grievances to the streets after months of attempts to communicate with the President.
He said the labour movement had written to President Tinubu from June through December but received no response.
“Well, by December 17th, 2025, we pulled out that we are going to the streets. After writing a letter from May, sorry June, to December to Mr. President and there was no response,” he said.
According to him, the planned action eventually led to the intervention of some state governors, who facilitated an interface between labour and the government.
He said the intervention became necessary after other channels of communication, including the office of the Minister of Labour, had failed.
“Because the whole channel—whether through the Minister of Labour or any other office—failed, collapsed. So some governors met with us, and since that time we have talked once or twice,” Ajaero said.
However, the NLC president suggested that the situation had not significantly improved, alleging that the issues raised by labour since December had largely been left unresolved.
“And those issues… December last year to now, they’re just doing their business. Everybody is their enemy,” he added.
The Nigeria Police Force has disclosed a series of operational successes recorded across eight states, including the rescue of kidnapped victims, the recovery of firearms and rocket launchers, the repulsion of bandit attacks and the arrest of suspects linked to armed robbery and murder.
The Force made the disclosure on Saturday, October 3, 2026, in its 24-hour operational update covering security operations recorded on October 2 and related reporting periods.
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According to the Police, the operations were recorded in Sokoto, Benue, Katsina, Ogun, Taraba, Cross River and Oyo states.
Sokoto: Police Foil Bandit Attack, Recover Rocket Launchers
In Sokoto State, Police tactical teams, the Anti-Kidnapping Unit and the Violent Crime Response Unit (VCRU) engaged suspected bandits who attacked Tsabre Village.
The Police said the attackers were overpowered and fled into the forest with casualties.
A subsequent bush-combing operation led to the recovery of two rocket launchers, two empty AK-47 magazines, a Tecno keypad phone, a torchlight, an army jungle hat, a sweater cap, five pairs of sandals and a rain jacket.
The Police said no casualty was recorded on its side.
Katsina: Bandits Repelled on Funtua-Zaria Road
In Katsina State, a joint team comprising VCRU, 83 Police Mobile Force (PMF) and other tactical operatives engaged suspected heavily armed bandits who reportedly blocked the Funtua-Zaria Road and opened fire on commuters.
The Police said the attackers were repelled and traffic flow was restored along the road.
Four injured commuters were evacuated for medical treatment.
The incident is being investigated by the SCID, Katsina.
Ogun: Police Rescue Nine Kidnapped Travellers
In Ogun State, the Police disclosed the rescue of nine travellers who were kidnapped on September 29, 2026, by armed men along the Benin-Sagamu Expressway.
According to the Force, the victims were released unharmed following sustained pressure mounted by the Police and sister security agencies.
“Their statements were taken and they were reunited with their families,” the Police said.
The case is being investigated by the SCID, Abeokuta.
Katsina: Four Kidnap Victims Rescued
The Police also reported the rescue of four kidnapped victims in Katsina State, as reflected in its consolidated operational returns for the reporting period.
The Force said the matter was being investigated by the SCID, Katsina.
Oyo: Three Arrested Over Alleged Robbery, Murder
In Oyo State, operatives of the VCRU arrested Akinrinola Oluwatobi, 28; Okunola Mathew, 24; and Ibrahim Rabiu, 23, in connection with the alleged armed robbery and murder of Mrs Wahab Rukayat.
The Police said the suspects were arrested following credible intelligence after operatives raided a criminal hideout in the Sabo area of Ibadan.
An iPhone 7 Plus belonging to the deceased was reportedly recovered during the operation.
The Force further stated that the complainant identified the suspects during an identification parade and that they confessed to the crime.
The case is being investigated by the SCID, Ibadan.
The Police said the various operations formed part of its ongoing efforts to combat banditry, kidnapping, cult-related activities, armed robbery and other crimes across the country.
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