Nigeria has recorded its strongest crude oil production performance in over a year, surpassing its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota for the first time in months. Fresh data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that the country produced an average of 1.53 million barrels of crude oil per day in May 2026, representing 102 per cent of its OPEC-approved production target of 1.5 million barrels per day. The milestone signals a significant turnaround for Africa’s largest oil producer after years of struggling with production shortfalls.
When condensate output of 170,446 barrels per day is added, Nigeria’s total oil production rose to an impressive 1.70 million barrels per day. According to the NUPRC, this marks the highest combined crude oil and condensate production level since July 2025, reinforcing Nigeria’s position as the continent’s leading oil-producing nation. The achievement comes amid growing efforts to improve efficiency across upstream operations and restore confidence in the country’s oil sector.
The commission attributed the strong performance to improved operational stability and the absence of major disruptions across critical oil facilities. Throughout May, production remained steady, ranging between 1.51 million barrels per day and a peak of 1.86 million barrels per day. NUPRC noted that all scheduled maintenance activities were successfully completed, while the lack of significant pipeline breaches and facility shutdowns helped sustain higher output levels.
A closer look at the production figures reveals a steady upward trend in recent months. Combined crude oil and condensate production climbed from 1.48 million barrels per day in February to 1.54 million barrels per day in March, before rising to 1.66 million barrels per day in April and reaching 1.70 million barrels per day in May. Among Nigeria’s key export streams, Bonny Terminal led production with 293,870 barrels per day, followed closely by Forcados Terminal at 289,900 barrels per day, while Qua Iboe contributed 173,360 barrels per day.
The latest production surge is expected to strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal outlook by boosting government revenues and foreign exchange earnings at a critical time for economic recovery. For years, the country has battled crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, ageing infrastructure, and underinvestment, all of which weighed heavily on production levels. However, recent efforts by the Federal Government, security agencies, and industry operators appear to be delivering results. Industry observers say maintaining production above the OPEC quota will depend on continued operational stability, stronger infrastructure protection, and sustained investment in upstream oil projects.
source: punch