The Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), Dr. Maikanti Baru, has disclosed that the Nigerian Petroleum Development Company (NPDC) is on its way to becoming Nigeria’s top oil and gas exploration and production (E&P) outfit, thus competing efficiently in terms of output levels with other International Oil Companies (IOCs) in the country, THISDAY reports.

Baru said the target of the NNPC was to make the NPDC which is its subsidiary, become the top E&P company in Nigeria, adding that it was already responding to that mandate and would soon have its oil production levels move up to 500,000 barrel per day (bpd) from 230,000bpd which he said it currently produces.

A statement from the Group General Manager, Public Affairs of the NNPC, Mr. Ndu Ughamadu, yesterday in Abuja, quoted Baru, to have said this when he spoke at the 18th annual General Meeting (AGM) of NPDC in Benin City, Edo State.

Baru, according to the statement, expressed satisfaction with the performance of NPDC. He also explained that NPDC’s production level was significantly growing and would soon hit the 500,000bpd which he added would almost place it at par with the highest producers in the country.