Nigeria’s crude oil production climbs to 1.56 million bpd in June, exceeds OPEC quota

Nigeria’s crude oil production increased to 1.56 million barrels per day (bpd) in June 2026, its highest output level in more than six years, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The commission disclosed that the June production figure represented a two per cent increase from the 1.53 million bpd recorded in May and marked the fourth consecutive month of growth in the country’s crude oil output.

In a statement issued on Sunday, the NUPRC said the latest performance enabled Nigeria to surpass its production quota under the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

According to the commission, the country achieved 104 per cent of its assigned OPEC production target of 1.5 million barrels per day during the month under review.

The regulator noted that crude oil production, excluding condensates, reached its highest level since April 2020, underscoring a sustained recovery in the upstream sector.

Data released by the commission showed that production rose steadily in recent months, increasing from 1.31 million bpd in February to 1.38 million bpd in March, 1.48 million bpd in April and 1.53 million bpd in May before reaching 1.56 million bpd in June.

The NUPRC further reported that condensate production stood at 180,000 barrels per day in June, bringing total combined crude oil and condensate output to an average of 1.74 million barrels per day.

“The statistics show that Nigeria has maintained an upward trajectory, increasing from 1.483 mbpd in February to 1.546 mbpd in March, 1.663 mbpd in April, 1.700 mbpd in May, and 1.735 mbpd in June, representing a 2.2 per cent month-on-month growth,” the commission stated.

The agency added that production peaked at 1.89 million barrels per day during the month, a development it said highlights Nigeria’s capacity to attain the two million barrels per day mark in the near future.

Despite the encouraging performance, daily production levels fluctuated during the month, with the lowest output recorded at 1.57 million barrels per day.

The commission attributed the improvement in production to greater operational stability across oil-producing assets and the absence of major disruptions to critical export infrastructure.

According to the regulator, uninterrupted operations across key facilities helped improve production uptime and facilitated the efficient evacuation of crude oil.

“The improved performance was largely driven by stable production operations across most producing assets and the absence of any major pipeline outages during the period under review,” the statement said.

Industry stakeholders have consistently identified pipeline vandalism, crude oil theft and infrastructure challenges as major constraints to Nigeria’s oil production. However, recent gains have been linked to enhanced security measures, improved surveillance and increased collaboration between operators and host communities.

The latest production figures provide a boost for the country’s revenue outlook, as crude oil remains Nigeria’s largest source of foreign exchange earnings and a major contributor to government income.

The sustained rise in output is also expected to strengthen the country’s position within OPEC and support ongoing efforts to improve fiscal stability and economic growth.