Oil production: Directives given by Tinubu yielding result – Defence Minister

Minister of Defence, Mohammed Badaru, has said the marching order President Bola Tinubu gave to the military to curtail oil bunkering in the Niger Delta and increase crude oil production, is yielding results.

Badaru, who spoke with journalists in Port Harcourt, Rivers State capital, on the sidelines of his visit to 6 Division of Nigeria Army, Port Harcourt, said the improvement in crude oil production to 1.7 million barrels per day is as a result of the aggressive fight launched against illegal oil bunkering by the military.

He said by the end of the year, about 1.9 million barrels per day production would be achieved.

Badaru said with the logistics and arrangements being put in place by the military, there will be further increase of  production to 2.3 million bpd by  mid-year of 2025.

He said, “The directive Mr President gave to the military to go after oil bunkering in Niger Delta is yielding results. I believe we have arrived at 1.6 to 1.7 million barrels as against the one we have before and I believe that by the end of the year, we will see ourself around 1.9 million barrels to 2 million barrels.

“By the middle of next year God’s willing we be producing around 2.3 million barrels with the arrangement that have been put in place and with the efforts the armed forces are putting with the support of Chief of Defence Staff and the Service Chiefs and of course with the encouragement and support of Mr President, we will achieve that.

“I am here on a visit to see our troops and to encourage them to continue to do the good job they are doing around here and also see what has been going on with the fight against crude oil theft in the region.

“I have gone through the detailed plan that was outlined by the Chief of Defence Staff and it’s work in progress. I don’t believe we have to tell you what we are doing but certainly you have seen the progress so far. The oil production have continued to increase and I assure you before the end of the year you will see tremendous increase in the oil production in the country.”