Nigeria’s crude oil production surged to an 11-month high in May 2026, with the country exceeding its production quota as set by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The average crude output recorded during May represents 102 per cent of Nigeria’s OPEC allocation of 1.5 million barrels per day (mbpd), according to a production report released on Thursday by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The commission disclosed that Nigeria’s oil production averaged 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil and 170,446 barrels of condensates per day, bringing total combined output to 1,700,800 barrels per day. This consolidates Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer.
The report stated that production performance during the review period remained robust, with combined crude oil and condensate output ranging from a low of 1.51 million bpd to a peak of 1.86 million bpd. The May 2026 figures represent the highest recorded by Nigeria since July 2025, when output reached 1,712,282 bpd.
In strict crude oil terms, excluding condensates, the 1.53 million barrels recorded in May 2026 marks the highest level since January 2025, when crude production hit 1.538 mbpd. On a month-on-month basis, production rose by 2.77 per cent in May 2026 compared with 1.48 mbpd in April.
The broader production trend over the last five months has also remained positive. Combined crude oil and condensate output increased from 1.48 mbpd in February to 1.54 mbpd in March, 1.66 mbpd in April, and 1.7 mbpd in May, underscoring sustained growth in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon production.
Among production streams, Bonny Terminal led with a total blend of 293,870 bpd, closely followed by Forcados Terminal at 289,900 bpd. Qua Iboe ranked third with 173,360 bpd, while Escravos Oil Terminal contributed 135,470 bpd. The Odudu (Amenam Blend) accounted for 63,250 bpd across the top five production streams during the month under review.
The NUPRC attributed the rise in production to sustained positive momentum, with operations remaining stable throughout the reporting period and no significant pipeline or facility outages recorded. It added that all previously scheduled turnaround maintenance activities had been completed, thereby improving operational reliability and production efficiency.
