Nigeria’s crude oil production reached a six-year high in June 2026, surpassing its OPEC quota for the second consecutive month and signaling a strong recovery for the nation’s oil sector.
The upward trend is driven by improved operational stability and declining pipeline disruptions.
Latest data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) indicated that Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production rose to an average of 1,735,398 barrels per day in June 2026, representing positive growth for the 4th consecutive month.
The data showed that the nation recorded 1.56 million barrels of crude per day in June 2026, while 0.18 million barrels of condensates were produced per day. “This means Nigeria met 104% of the 1.5mbpd crude oil production quota set by the Organisation and Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC),” NUPRC said in a statement released on Sunday, July 12, signed by its Head, Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu.
“In strict crude oil terms (excluding condensates), the 1.56 million daily average production Nigeria witnessed in June is the highest that Africa’s biggest oil producer has recorded since April 2020, thus representing a 74-month high,’ it further noted.
This achievement marks a significant turnaround after Nigeria struggled to meet its OPEC target for 10 months due to production challenges and theft.
The NUPRC highlighted that the peak daily production of crude oil and condensate in June hit 1.89 million bpd, demonstrating the country’s potential to reach its 2 million bpd target. It, however, stated the lowest production was 1.57mbpd for the period in review.
The NUPRC data showed that production has been steadily climbing since the start of 2026, rising from 1.483 million bpd in February to 1.546 million bpd in March, 1.663 million bpd in April, 1.700 million bpd in May, and 1.735 million bpd in June, representing a 2.2 per cent growth month on month.
Industry watchers attribute the improved performance to stable operations across most producing assets and the absence of major pipeline outages during the period. Enhanced operational stability has supported better production uptime and more efficient crude evacuation, according to NUPRC.
While a limited number of assets experienced short-duration operational shutdowns, the overall impact on national production was minimal. Scheduled turnaround maintenance activities were also completed without significant disruption, the Commission stated.
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A breakdown of production by terminal shows that Bonny Terminal led with an average of 318,280 bpd, up from 293,880 bpd in May. Forcados Terminal followed closely with 306,360 bpd, compared to 289,900 bpd the previous month.
Qua Iboe Terminal recorded 164,730 bpd, a slight decline from 173,360 bpd in May, while Escravos Oil Terminal posted 138,030 bpd, up from 135,470 bpd. Bonga ranked fifth, delivering an average of 103,660 bpd, marginally higher than May’s 102,540 bpd.
The sustained growth, according to NUPRC, reflects the continued commitment of operators and industry stakeholders toward improving operational efficiency, maintaining asset integrity, and enhancing production reliability across Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
The development comes as OPEC has maintained Nigeria’s quota at 1.5 million bpd through the end of 2026, following months of struggle in 2025 when the country repeatedly fell short of its target due to crude theft and pipeline vandalism.
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