Nigeria’s crude oil production has reached its highest level in more than six years, marking another major milestone for the country’s oil industry. New figures released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) show that the country produced an average of 1.56 million barrels of crude oil per day in June 2026, exceeding the production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day set by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
When condensate production is added, Nigeria’s total daily oil output increased to 1.74 million barrels, making June the fourth straight month of production growth. This is also the highest crude oil production level recorded since April 2020, reflecting a strong recovery in the country’s upstream petroleum sector.
According to the NUPRC, total oil production rose from 1.70 million barrels per day in May to 1.74 million barrels per day in June, representing a monthly increase of about 2.2 percent. Production has continued to improve steadily after standing at 1.48 million barrels per day in February, before rising each month through March, April, May, and June.
The commission said the improvement was made possible by better operational stability across major oil-producing fields and the absence of major pipeline shutdowns during the period. It explained that oil companies maintained steady production activities while scheduled maintenance was completed without causing significant disruptions.
Although a few oil facilities experienced temporary operational shutdowns, the overall impact on national production remained minimal. The NUPRC praised operators and industry stakeholders for improving efficiency, protecting oil assets, and ensuring more reliable production across the sector.
The report also revealed that Nigeria’s highest daily oil production in June reached 1.89 million barrels, while the lowest daily output stood at 1.57 million barrels. These figures suggest that the country is gradually moving closer to the Federal Government’s long-standing target of producing two million barrels of oil per day.
Among Nigeria’s export terminals, Bonny Terminal remained the country’s largest producer with an average daily output of over 318,000 barrels, followed by Forcados Terminal, which also recorded higher production compared to the previous month. Escravos Terminal posted a slight increase, while Bonga Terminal maintained stable production. However, Qua Iboe Terminal recorded a small decline in output during the month.
The steady rise in oil production is expected to boost Nigeria’s export earnings, improve foreign exchange inflows, and generate more revenue for the Federal Government. Higher production could also strengthen investor confidence as authorities continue efforts to attract more investment into the country’s oil and gas industry.
Nigeria has struggled for years to meet its OPEC production quota due to crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, ageing infrastructure, and underinvestment. However, recent improvements in security around oil facilities, ongoing reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, and stronger cooperation between government agencies and oil companies have helped restore confidence and improve production levels.
Industry experts believe maintaining this positive trend will be important for Nigeria’s economy. If production remains stable and infrastructure is properly protected, the country could sustain output above its OPEC target and move closer to achieving its long-term production goals while increasing revenue from crude oil exports.
