Nigeria, Oct. 22 -- Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) saw its profit after tax plunge by as much as 59.9 per cent to N216 billion last month from N539 billion in August, hammered by a weaker oil production level that hit its lowest in five months.

The state-owned energy company's latest monthly report released on Tuesday showed crude oil & condensates dropped from 1.64 million barrels per day (bpd) in August to 1.61 million in September, its weakest output since April.

Gas production also diminished to its smallest volume ever this year, straining profit.

Earlier in October, NNPL's chief executive officer, Bayo Ojulari, said a recent nationwide strike by some oil workers cost Nigeria over 200,000 barrels daily, with a...