Nigeria increased its crude oil production above its OPEC quota and recorded its highest output in 15 months, supported by stable operations and the absence of major disruptions at key oil facilities.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that Nigeria produced an average of 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil per day in May, reaching 102 percent of its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day.
Nigeria’s total oil production rose to 1,700,800 barrels per day after adding condensate production of 170,446 barrels per day, strengthening its position as Africa’s largest oil producer.
Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Corporate Communications at the NUPRC, disclosed the figures in a statement released.
The commission said the latest results reflected continued improvements in upstream operations and marked the strongest production performance in recent months.
The NUPRC reported that Nigeria produced an average of 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil and 170,446 barrels of condensates per day in May, bringing total production to 1,700,800 barrels per day and reinforcing the country’s status as Africa’s largest oil producer.
The commission noted that the average crude oil production recorded in May represented 102 percent of Nigeria’s OPEC production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day.
The NUPRC added that production remained stable throughout the month.
The commission stated that combined crude oil and condensate production ranged from a low of 1.51 million barrels per day to a high of 1.86 million barrels per day during the period under review.
Analysis of the data showed that May recorded the highest combined crude oil and condensate production since July 2025, when output reached 1,712,282 barrels per day.
Crude oil production alone, excluding condensates, reached 1.53 million barrels per day in May, the highest level since January 2025, when production stood at 1.538 million barrels per day.
The May figures marked Nigeria’s highest crude oil production level in 15 months.
The latest results also showed that the country’s oil production has continued to trend upward in recent months.
Crude oil production increased by 2.77 percent from 1.48 million barrels per day in April 2026 on a month-on-month basis.
Nigeria’s broader production trend also remained positive.
Combined crude oil and condensate output increased from 1.48 million barrels per day in February to 1.54 million barrels per day in March. Production then rose to 1.66 million barrels per day in April before reaching 1.70 million barrels per day in May.
The commission said the sustained increase reflected better operational efficiency and stronger reliability across the oil and gas sector.
Among the major production streams, Bonny Terminal recorded the highest output at 293,870 barrels per day.
Forcados Terminal followed with 289,900 barrels per day, while Qua Iboe ranked third with production of 173,360 barrels per day.
Escravos Oil Terminal produced 135,470 barrels per day, while Odudu, also known as the Amenam Blend, contributed 63,250 barrels per day to complete the top five producing streams.
The NUPRC linked the increase in production to stable upstream operations across the country.
The commission said operators maintained production levels because they did not record any major pipeline breaches or facility shutdowns during the period.
According to the NUPRC, stable operations throughout the reporting period and the absence of significant outages helped drive higher production.
The commission also noted that operators completed all scheduled turnaround maintenance activities, which improved operational reliability and production efficiency.
The latest production figures could strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal position, as higher oil output may increase government revenue and foreign exchange earnings while supporting broader economic growth.
Nigeria has struggled in recent years to meet its OPEC production targets due to crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, aging infrastructure, and limited investment in the sector.
Recent efforts by the Federal Government, security agencies, and industry operators to reduce oil theft and improve asset integrity appear to have contributed to the improved production performance.
Nigeria’s ability to sustain production above its OPEC quota will depend on maintaining operational stability, attracting new upstream investments, and preventing disruptions to critical oil infrastructure
source: https://punchng.com/
African Energy Council