The Group Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Ltd, Mele Kyari, has charged Oil companies operating in Nigeria to join the national oil company in its quest to boost oil and gas production in the country.

Kyari said this while delivering a keynote address on Monday, in Abuja, at the opening session of the Nigerian Oil and Gas Energy Week with the theme, “Showcasing opportunities, driving investment, meeting demand.”

The event was attended by the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas) Ekperikpe Ekpo; Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil) Heineken Lokpobiri; the Special Adviser to the President on Energy, Olu Verheijen; the Chairman of Independent Petroleum Producer Group, Abdulrasaq Isa and Chief Executives of international and local Oil companies.

The Secretary General of OPEC Haitham Al Ghais, and the Secretary General of the Gas Exporting Countries Forum, Engr Mohammed Hamel attended virtually.

The NNPC GCEO warned the oil and gas firms to increase their investments to unlock the potentials of the energy sector, noting that the country’s economy will still grow without them if they fail to play their role in meeting Nigeria’s energy demand.

Kyari said that the NNPCL will henceforth lead the battle in growing crude oil production in Nigeria, adding that the national oil company will no longer allow itself to be delayed in its quest to achieve the vision of President Bola Tinubu for the energy sector.