Nigeria has maintained its oil production momentum for the third consecutive month, surpassing its Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, quota despite a 4 per cent month-on-month decline in July 2026.
Latest data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) shows that the country produced an average of 1.505 million barrels per day (mbpd) of crude oil in July. With the addition of 0.17mbpd of condensate, total liquid production stood at 1.67mbpd.
The figure is above Nigeria’s OPEC quota of 1.5mbpd, marking the third straight month of compliance.
According to the NUPRC report, production for the month peaked at 1.78mbpd while the lowest daily output was 1.57mbpd.
Operational Setbacks Behind The Dip
Despite meeting the quota, Nigeria recorded a 4 per cent drop in output compared to June.
According to a by the NUPRC spokesperson, Eniola Akinkuotu, the Commission attributed the decline to “operational challenges experienced at the Erha and Akpo fields, which impacted production output during the period under review.”
“These disruptions constrained production volumes and contributed significantly to the overall reduction in national crude oil output,” the Commission stated.
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Stability Across Other Assets
The upstream regulator noted that operations across most other producing assets remained “relatively stable.”
It added that operators have continued to implement measures aimed at maintaining production efficiency and minimizing the impact of operational constraints.
The sustained performance above OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day comes at a critical time as Nigeria seeks to boost revenue from crude exports and stabilize foreign exchange earnings.
Industry analysts say consistent output above 1.5mbpd, if maintained, will strengthen Nigeria’s position within OPEC and improve budget performance for the second half of 2026.
The NUPRC said it will continue to monitor field operations and work with stakeholders to address bottlenecks and sustain production growth.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X