The Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Heineken Lokpobiri, says NNPC Limited must explain to Nigerians the current state and performance of the country’s refineries.

Lokpobiri said Nigerians deserve full facts before conclusions are drawn over claims that the refineries had reached full capacity.

He also said the government’s crude oil production had risen to about 1.84 million barrels per day, including condensates, but attributed limits on further production to ageing infrastructure, particularly pipelines that are more than 50 years old.

He said NNPC had begun a comprehensive pipeline overhaul, while operators were also reviving previously shut-in wells to boost output.