Nigeria’s Crude Oil Output Rises to 1.459 Million BPD in January 2026 Amid Ongoing Challenges
Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.459 million barrels per day (bpd) in January 2026, reinforcing its position as Africa’s top oil producer despite falling short of its OPEC-assigned quota of 1.5 million bpd. The increase, revealed in OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report (MOMR), represents a modest month-on-month growth from December’s 1.422 million bpd, signaling gradual recovery in the nation’s oil output.
While Nigeria maintained its lead on the continent, the country has now recorded six consecutive months below its OPEC quota, highlighting persistent structural and operational challenges in the oil sector. Security threats such as pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and years of underinvestment in upstream infrastructure have continued to constrain production capacity, leaving January output approximately 50,000 bpd below the target.
OPEC’s report also revealed minor discrepancies in data tracking. Direct communication between Nigerian authorities and OPEC reported 1.459 million bpd, while secondary sources placed output slightly higher at 1.47 million bpd. Libya followed as the second-largest producer in Africa with 1.37 million bpd during the same period, illustrating Nigeria’s continued regional dominance despite quota shortfalls.
The broader context shows that OPEC’s Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) countries collectively produced 42.45 million bpd in January, a decline of 439,000 bpd from December levels. The reduction reflects ongoing efforts by oil-producing nations to stabilize global markets amid fluctuating demand and macroeconomic uncertainties, emphasizing the strategic importance of production management alongside national output challenges.
For Nigeria, crude oil remains central to economic stability, underpinning foreign exchange earnings and government revenue. Analysts note that even modest gains in output can ease fiscal pressures, strengthen external reserves, and support budget implementation. While the federal government has set an ambitious benchmark of 2.6 million bpd for 2026, it plans to adopt a more conservative 1.8 million bpd for budget planning, highlighting the balance between aspiration and operational realities.
source: nairametrics