Nigeria to Seek OPEC Approval for 2 Million Barrels Daily Oil Quota as Output Surges Past 1.7m bpd
Nigeria is set to request the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to approve an increase in its oil production quota from the current 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd) to 2 million bpd. Minister of State for Petroleum (Oil), Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, revealed this during an interview marking the 4th anniversary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Lokpobiri noted that when he assumed office, production stood at 1 million barrels daily, but the country now exceeds 1.7 million bpd — a major rebound for Africa’s biggest oil producer.
Lokpobiri credited the surge in production to renewed investor confidence and improved infrastructure across oil-producing regions. He explained that new rigs, deepwater exploration projects, and stability introduced by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) have helped unlock fresh investments in the sector. The minister emphasized that Nigeria’s condensate production, which is excluded from OPEC’s count but commands higher market prices, further strengthens the case for raising the country’s quota. “We now have the capacity and justification to request a 2 million bpd quota from OPEC,” he said.
The minister highlighted the government’s efforts in tackling pipeline vandalism and crude theft — longstanding issues that once crippled output. He noted that companies are now confident to produce at full capacity, with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) guaranteeing that 100% of crude oil pumped into pipelines reaches export terminals. Lokpobiri said the government is also working with investors to replace ageing pipelines, some of which are over 60 years old, to further improve integrity and production efficiency.
Lokpobiri pointed out that local oil producers are re-entering about 500 previously shut wells following the divestment of assets by international oil companies. Meanwhile, Minister of State for Petroleum (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, disclosed that the 2024 Licensing Round attracted about $16 billion in investments, with global players like ExxonMobil committing $1.5 billion to deepwater exploration. He added that Nigeria is closing its gas infrastructure gap through projects such as the Gas Infrastructure Blueprint and the Nigeria Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, which have reduced gas flaring rates to 7.16% as of mid-2025.
Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, said Nigeria’s long-term goal of reaching 3 million barrels daily is achievable. He explained that the agency’s strategy includes unlocking frontier basins, promoting improved oil recovery in mature fields, and fast-tracking exploration projects to bring more barrels to market. “It’s not a pipe dream — it’s within reach,” Komolafe said confidently. With growing investment, regulatory stability, and improved operational efficiency, Nigeria appears poised to reclaim its position as one of the world’s top oil producers.
source: Arise