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By Obas Esiedesa, Abuja
Nigeria’s total oil production, comprising crude oil and condensates, increased by 2.2 per cent in May to 1.70 million barrels per day (bpd), while crude oil output exceeded the country’s OPEC production quota for the first time this year.
Data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Thursday showed that combined oil production rose from 1.66 million bpd in April to 1.70 million bpd in May, consolidating Nigeria’s position as Africa’s largest oil producer.
The commission reported that crude oil production averaged 1.53 million bpd during the month, surpassing Nigeria’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million bpd by two per cent and marking the first time the country has met and exceeded its allocation in 2026.
The May production figures represent the highest combined crude oil and condensate output since July 2025, when production reached 1.71 million bpd. In crude oil terms alone, the 1.53 million bpd recorded in May is the highest level since January 2025 and a 15-month high.
NUPRC also reported that production peaked at 1.86 million bpd during the month, while the lowest daily output stood at 1.51 million bpd.
The commission, in a statement by its Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, said production performance remained robust throughout the review period.
“Production performance during the review period remained robust, with combined crude oil and condensate output ranging between a low of 1.51 million bpd and a peak of 1.86 million bpd,” it stated.
According to the commission, the broader production trend over the past five months has remained positive.
“Combined crude oil and condensate output increased from 1.48 million bpd in February to 1.54 million bpd in March, 1.66 million bpd in April and then 1.70 million bpd in May, underscoring sustained growth in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon production levels.
“Among production streams, Bonny Terminal led the pack with a total blend of 293,870 bpd, closely followed by Forcados Terminal at 289,900 bpd. Qua Iboe ranked third with 173,360 bpd, while Escravos Oil Terminal contributed 135,470 bpd.
“Odudu (Amenam Blend) completed the top five production streams, accounting for 63,250 bpd during the month under review.”
The NUPRC attributed the increase in output to sustained operational stability, noting that there were no significant pipeline or production facility outages during the reporting period.
It added that all scheduled turnaround maintenance activities had been successfully completed, contributing to improved operational reliability and production efficiency.