NEWS
NNPCL Launches Utapate Crude Oil Blend, Eyes Production Expansion In 2025
The Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation Limited (NNPC Ltd) has announced the international debut of its new crude oil grade, the Utapate blend, six months after commencing production.
The move is expected to significantly bolster Nigeria’s crude oil exports, revenue generation, and economic growth.
In a statement released Wednesday, NNPCL’s Chief Corporate Communications Officer, Olufemi Soneye, said the crude blend was unveiled at the Argus European Crude Conference in London.
READ ALSO:
The launch follows the dispatch of the first cargo in July 2024, which delivered 950,000 barrels to Spain.
The Utapate crude oil blend, produced from the Utapate field in Oil Mining Lease (OML) 13 in Akwa Ibom State, is notable for its low sulphur content of 0.0655% and reduced carbon footprint, achieved through gas flare elimination.
These characteristics align with the preferences of European refiners, positioning the blend as an environmentally sustainable and economically attractive option.
According to NNPC E&P Limited Managing Director Nicholas Foucart, production has ramped up rapidly since operations began in May 2024.
“We have rapidly ramped up production to 40,000 barrels per day with minimal downtime,” Foucart said.
“So far, we have exported five cargoes, largely to Spain and the East Coast of the United States, while two additional cargoes are set for export in November and December 2024. This represents a significant boost to Nigeria’s crude oil export portfolio.”
Foucart added that the Utapate field is estimated to hold 330 million barrels of crude oil, 45 million barrels of condensate, and 3.5 trillion cubic feet of gas.
Production is set to increase further, with targets of 50,000 barrels per day by January 2025 and 80,000 barrels per day by the end of 2025.
“The Utapate crude oil terminal is sustainable, affordable, and fully compliant with rigorous environmental regulations and sustainability principles, particularly those aimed at reducing carbon emissions and other ecological impacts,” Foucart emphasized.
NNPC Trading Limited’s Managing Director, Lawal Sade, described the Utapate crude oil blend as a highly sought-after product in the international market.
He noted that its pricing structure mirrors that of the Amenam crude oil grade, known for its light, sweet properties, low sulphur content, and high yield of premium products.
“The Utapate blend is an excellent match for refiners globally, offering the efficiency and quality they demand,” Sade stated. “In introducing this product to the market, our aim is to optimize value for both producers and global buyers.”
The Utapate field’s development, which took place between 2013 and 2019, involved converting operations from swamp and marine-based facilities to land-based ones, enhancing operational efficiency and sustainability.
This new crude grade follows the successful introduction of the Nembe crude oil blend in 2023, underscoring NNPCL’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s footprint in the global energy market.
Foucart highlighted the broader vision for Utapate’s growth. “Our ongoing projects aim to increase production to 60,000–65,000 barrels per day by mid-2025, ultimately reaching 80,000 barrels by the year’s end.
This expansion not only strengthens our market position but also contributes significantly to Nigeria’s economic development,” he said.
NEWS
Outrage as Police Officer Who Threatened Nigerians Over Recording Breaks Silence
A Nigerian police officer identified as Newton Isokpehi has sparked widespread reactions online after publicly apologising for threatening Nigerians who film police officers while on duty.
The officer came under heavy criticism after a viral video showed him warning that he would “clear everybody down,” including bystanders near anyone recording him during official duty.
Following the backlash, Isokpehi released a video on Thursday pleading with Nigerians and rights activist Harrison Gwamnishu for forgiveness, saying his earlier comments were made out of anger and frustration.
SEE ALSO: Six Arrested as Police Expose Inside Network Behind Oyo School Abduction
“Please forgive me. If I offended you as a brother, forgive me. That statement was just out of annoyance because of the things that are happening,” he said.
Speaking in Pidgin English, the officer clarified that he was not against citizens filming police officers, noting that Nigerians have the right to record security personnel while carrying out their duties.
“Actually, you can video us. You are allowed to video a policeman. But it’s not right for just anybody to come from anywhere and start videoing officers on duty,” he stated.
Isokpehi, who disclosed that he hails from Edo State and was raised in a police barracks in Kaduna, described himself as a committed officer who has spent over 12 years serving in the Mobile Police unit.
The officer also displayed several scars and gunshot wounds on his body, claiming they were sustained during dangerous operations while serving the country.
“Out of 17 of us, only two survived that operation. We have suffered in this work,” he said emotionally.
Attempting to walk back his earlier remarks, Isokpehi insisted he never intended to harm civilians.
“How can I be saying I will kill my own people? We don’t do that. I spoke out of annoyance. That one was just verbal talk,” he added.
He further appealed directly to Gwamnishu and Nigerians, admitting that the controversy had escalated beyond what he expected.
“Harrison, forgive me. I beg the whole of Nigeria, please forgive me. This one has reached too far,” he pleaded.
The apology has continued to generate mixed reactions online, with many Nigerians condemning the officer’s initial comments while others expressed sympathy over the harsh conditions faced by security personnel.
NEWS
Cubana Chief Priest Explains Why He Dumped Peter Obi for Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Nigerian socialite and businessman, Cubana Chief Priest, has explained why he shifted his political support from former Labour Party presidential candidate Peter Obi to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu following the 2023 general elections.
Speaking during a livestream session with popular streamer Peller, the celebrity businessman said his decision was motivated by a desire to avoid repeated political disappointment.
SEE ALSO: Plateau 2027: “I’m Not in the Race to Fill Numbers” — Bida Declares War on Mutfwang
He stated that he no longer wanted to back a candidate who might lose, saying he made the switch after the last election experience.
“Because I don’t want to lose again because they say first fool no be fool na the second fool be proper fool,” he said.
Cubana Chief Priest also claimed that President Tinubu remains cautious about him due to his past political alignment with Peter Obi and his ethnic background.
According to him, the President does not fully trust him because of his previous support for the opposition during the 2023 polls.
“President Bola Tinubu no really trust me as an Igbo man that I am. He look me with one eye because he believes that this one that worked for Peter Obi, before at the last election,” he added.
He further dismissed the chances of Peter Obi in the 2027 presidential election, describing him as “not serious” and insisting that only “serious people” would emerge victorious.
The comments have since generated widespread reactions on social media, with critics accusing him of political opportunism, while others argue that his position reflects the realities of Nigeria’s winner-takes-all political system.
Cubana Chief Priest was a vocal supporter of Peter Obi and the Labour Party during the 2023 elections but later aligned with the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
He currently serves as the Imo State Coordinator of the Pro-Tinubu City Boys Movement and has become more active within APC circles.
He had also obtained an APC House of Representatives nomination form but later withdrew from the primary election on the day of the exercise.
NEWS
Yobe Hospital Makes Medical History With First-Ever Lower Jaw Surgery
The Yobe State Specialist Hospital has recorded a major medical breakthrough after successfully performing its first-ever lower jaw surgery, a development described as the first of its kind in North-Eastern Nigeria.
The complex procedure, known as a segmental mandibulectomy with reconstruction, was carried out on a 40-year-old female patient suffering from mandibular ameloblastoma, a tumour affecting the jawbone.
Speaking on the achievement, the Chief Medical Director of the hospital, Professor Usman Abba Giedam, said the surgery marked a significant milestone in the state’s healthcare sector.
SEE MORE: Ex-IGP Usman Alkali Baba Joins Yobe Governorship Race, Vows to End Insurgency
According to him, the operation involved the removal of a diseased section of the patient’s lower jaw and a sophisticated reconstruction using reconstruction plates and an iliac crest bone graft.
The surgery was led by Dr. Muhammad Ayuba Fusami with support from Dr. Peter Umejiego.
Giedam revealed that the patient is currently recovering well and responding positively to treatment following the successful operation.
He noted that the achievement reflects the growing capacity of the hospital to handle highly specialized medical procedures that previously required referrals outside the state.
The CMD also credited the administration of Mai Mala Buni for investing in healthcare infrastructure, medical equipment, and skilled manpower development across the state.
He added that the hospital remains committed to advancing specialized healthcare services and improving access to quality medical care for residents of Yobe State and the North-East region.





