Nigeria surpassed its crude oil production quota set by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in May 2026, marking a significant milestone in the country’s efforts to revive output, strengthen revenues and restore confidence in its petroleum sector.
Latest data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that crude oil production averaged 1.53 million barrels per day (bpd) in May, while condensate output stood at 170,446 bpd. Combined production reached 1.70 million bpd, making Nigeria Africa’s largest oil producer and representing the highest overall output level since July 2025.
The crude oil figure exceeded Nigeria’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million bpd by about two per cent, making May the first month in recent times that the country consistently outperformed its assigned production target.
The development underscores a gradual recovery from years of output disruptions caused by crude theft, pipeline vandalism, operational challenges and underinvestment. It also provides support for the Federal Government’s broader objective of raising production levels to boost foreign exchange earnings and improve fiscal revenues.
In crude oil terms alone, the 1.53 million bpd recorded in May was the highest since January 2025, representing a 15-month peak. Compared with April’s output of 1.48 million bpd, crude production increased by 2.77 per cent month-on-month.
The broader production trend also points to sustained momentum. Combined crude and condensate output rose from 1.48 million bpd in February to 1.54 million bpd in March, 1.66 million bpd in April and 1.70 million bpd in May, reflecting steady improvements across upstream operations.
The performance comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to attract investment into the sector and increase production capacity. Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri, recently reiterated the government’s ambition to raise crude oil production to 2.5 million bpd through increased investment and expanded exploration activities.
A breakdown of May’s production data showed that Bonny Terminal remained the country’s largest producing stream, contributing 293,870 bpd. It was followed by Forcados Terminal with 289,900 bpd, while Qua Iboe recorded 173,360 bpd. Escravos Oil Terminal contributed 135,470 bpd, while Odudu (Amenam Blend) produced 63,250 bpd.
According to the NUPRC, the increase in output was supported by stable operations across key production assets, with no major pipeline or facility outages recorded during the month. The regulator also noted that previously scheduled turnaround maintenance programmes had been completed, improving operational reliability and production efficiency.
While the latest figures signal encouraging progress, industry analysts say sustaining production above OPEC targets will depend on continued security improvements, fresh upstream investment and the successful execution of policies aimed at unlocking Nigeria’s vast but underdeveloped hydrocarbon resources.