Nigeria Achieves Record Drop in Crude Oil Losses to 9,600 Barrels per Day, Says NUPRC

Nigeria’s upstream oil sector has reached a historic milestone, slashing daily crude oil losses to just 9,600 barrels per day (bpd) in July 2025, the lowest level since 2009. Fresh data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows that improved security, tighter regulations, and better metering have dramatically reduced oil theft and operational leakages that have plagued the industry for years.

From January to July 2025, the country lost an estimated 2.04 million barrels of crude, averaging 9,960 bpd. This is a sharp 50.2% drop compared to 2024, when losses stood at 4.1 million barrels or 11,300 bpd. The downward trend marks a turnaround for Africa’s largest oil producer, which has long battled revenue losses from theft and inefficiencies.

The improvement becomes even clearer when placed against earlier figures. In 2021, Nigeria lost a staggering 37.6 million barrels of crude — about 102,900 bpd — the highest level in nearly 23 years. Losses steadily fell to 20.9 million barrels in 2022, 4.3 million barrels in 2023, and 4.1 million barrels in 2024. Today’s 9,600 bpd loss represents a 94.57% reduction from the 2021 peak, underscoring a dramatic shift in operational discipline and security response.

NUPRC attributes the success to a mix of “kinetic and non-kinetic” strategies rolled out under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021. These include stronger collaboration with security agencies, oil companies, and local communities to curb illegal activities, as well as sweeping metering audits to ensure accurate reporting of production and exports. The Commission, led by Chief Executive Gbenga Komolafe, has also approved 37 new crude oil evacuation routes to close loopholes exploited by oil thieves.

Experts say the gains strengthen confidence in Nigeria’s oil governance and revenue outlook. With losses at a historic low, the country stands to boost its export earnings and attract fresh investment into the upstream sector. For a government eager to shore up public finances and deliver growth, the numbers point to an oil industry finally turning the corner after years of chronic leakage.

source: leadership