Nigeria Exceeds OPEC Quota, Oil Production Hits 15-Month High

Nigeria's crude oil production exceeded its Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota in May 2026, achieving its highest output in 15 months. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported an average daily crude oil production of 1,530,354 barrels, which is 102 percent of the country's 1.5 million barrels per day OPEC allocation.

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Nigeria’s oil production witnessed an upswing in May 2026, averaging 1,530,354 barrels of crude oil and 170,446 barrels of condensates per day, bringing the total combined production to 1,700,800 barrels per day and consolidating Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer.

When condensate production of 170,446 barrels per day is included, Nigeria's total oil output climbed to 1,700,800 barrels per day. This performance solidifies Nigeria's status as Africa's leading oil producer. The NUPRC attributed the increase to sustained improvements in upstream operations and enhanced stability across key oil facilities, with no major disruptions reported during the month.

The May figures represent Nigeria's strongest production level since July 2025 for combined crude and condensate output. In terms of crude oil alone, excluding condensates, the 1.53 million barrels per day is the highest recorded since January 2025. This upward trend highlights a steady recovery in the country's oil sector over recent months.

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The average crude oil production recorded during the month of May represents 102 per cent of Nigeria’s 1.5 million barrels per day production quota allocated by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.

On a month-on-month basis, crude production saw a 2.77 percent increase from April 2026's output of 1.48 million barrels per day. The overall production trend remains positive, with combined crude oil and condensate output fluctuating between 1.51 million and 1.86 million barrels per day throughout May.

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Production performance during the review period remained robust, with combined crude oil and condensate output ranging between a low of 1.51 million barrels per day and a peak of 1.86 million barrels per day.