22/06/2026 by Thomas Clark
May saw crude oil production by the biggest oil producer in Africa rise to a 15-month high as it continues to increase production.
Nigeria has had trouble meeting its OPEC+ quota over the past year or so due to oil spills, the theft of oil and sabotage. A clampdown on the sabotage and oil theft, however, has enabled it to bounce back. It is now producing slightly over its OPEC+ quota.
According to an announcement by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the country pumped crude oil at a rate of 1.53 barrels per day (bpd) in May, the highest in 15 months. When including condensate, the rate was 1.7 million bpd, the highest in 11 months.
In a post on X, the NUPRC said:
“The broader production trend over the last five months has remained positive. Combined crude oil and condensate output increased from 1.48 million bpd in February to 1.54 million bpd in March, 1.66 million bpd in April, and then 1.7 million bpd in May, underscoring sustained growth in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon production levels.”
Nigeria has a state-owned oil company called NNPC but also collaborates with multinational oil majors. This includes ExxonMobil, the maker of the Mobil Pegasus gas engine oil. Nigeria is experiencing something of a revival following reforms. Udy Ntia, NNPC’s upstream executive vice president, was reported as saying that Nigeria hopes that crude oil production will reach 2 million bpd in the coming years. By the next decade, the country plans to reach 3 million bpd in average production.
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