By| Goodluck E.Adubazi, Abuja
Nigeria’s crude oil production surged to an 11-month high in May 2026, with the country exceeding its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) production quota and reinforcing its position as Africa’s leading oil producer.
Latest industry figures released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that Nigeria produced an average of 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil per day during the month, alongside 170,446 barrels of condensates, bringing total daily hydrocarbon output to 1,700,800 barrels.
The crude oil production level represents 102 per cent of Nigeria’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day, marking a significant milestone in the nation’s efforts to boost output and stabilise the petroleum sector.
According to the report, combined crude oil and condensate production fluctuated between a low of 1.51 million barrels per day and a peak of 1.86 million barrels per day throughout the month.
The May performance is the highest overall production level recorded since July 2025, when Nigeria’s output reached 1,712,282 barrels per day.
In terms of crude oil production alone, excluding condensates, the 1.53 million barrels per day achieved in May is the highest since January 2025, when production stood at 1.538 million barrels per day, making it a 15-month peak.
The figures also indicate a 2.77 per cent increase compared to April 2026, when crude oil production averaged 1.48 million barrels per day.
A review of production trends over the past five months revealed steady growth.
Combined crude oil and condensate output rose from 1.48 million barrels per day in February to 1.54 million barrels in March, climbed further to 1.66 million barrels in April, and reached 1.7 million barrels per day in May.
Among Nigeria’s major production streams, Bonny Terminal emerged as the highest contributor with 293,870 barrels per day, followed closely by Forcados Terminal with 289,900 barrels per day. Qua Iboe ranked third with 173,360 barrels per day, while Escravos Oil Terminal contributed 135,470 barrels per day.
Odudu (Amenam Blend) completed the top five producing streams, accounting for 63,250 barrels per day during the reporting period.
The NUPRC attributed the improved output to stable operations across the industry, noting that there were no major pipeline disruptions or facility outages during the month.
The commission also disclosed that all scheduled turnaround maintenance programmes had been successfully completed, enhancing operational efficiency and supporting sustained production growth.
Industry experts say the latest performance reflects growing stability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and could further strengthen government revenue and foreign exchange earnings if the upward trend is sustained.
