Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production increased to 1.530 million barrels per day (bpd) in May 2026, up from 1.489 million bpd recorded in April.
- +Nigeria’s oil output hits 1.53 mbpd, highest since July 2025
This is according to the latest Monthly Oil Market Report released by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
This is according to the latest Monthly Oil Market Report released by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The latest figure represents an increase of 41,000 bpd month-on-month and marks Nigeria’s first return above its OPEC production quota since mid-2025, providing a boost to the country’s oil revenue outlook.
According to OPEC, the increase comes despite broader production declines among members of the Declaration of Cooperation (DoC), reinforcing Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest crude oil producer.
OPEC’s latest report showed that Nigeria recorded improved crude oil production during May, outperforming several of its regional peers.
The cartel’s production figures are based on secondary sources, including energy intelligence platforms, alongside direct communication with member countries.
The latest production level places Nigeria above its OPEC production target and signals continued improvement in domestic oil output.
Nigeria has faced significant challenges in meeting its OPEC production quota over the past few years due to crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, underinvestment, and operational disruptions.
Recent government efforts to improve pipeline security and increase upstream investments have supported production recovery.
Despite operational challenges, Nigeria has consistently maintained its position as Africa’s leading crude oil producer.
According to OPEC data, Nigeria continues to outperform several African producers, including Libya, which produced 1.30 million bpd, Algeria at 982,000 bpd, Congo at 283,000 bpd, and Gabon at 210,000 bpd.
The increase in crude oil production could provide positive support for Nigeria’s fiscal position and foreign exchange earnings.
In April, the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan announced Nigeria’s crude oil production increased by about 40.5% to 1.84 million barrels per day (bpd) in March.
Earlier, NUPRC reported that Nigeria supplied 28.5 million barrels of crude oil to domestic refineries in the first quarter of 2026, falling significantly short of the 61.9 million barrels allocated for the period.
