Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to 1.56 million barrels per day (bpd) in June 2026, the highest level recorded since April 2020, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The commission said the June output represented an increase of about two per cent compared to the 1.53 million bpd produced in May, extending the country's production growth streak to four consecutive months.
In a statement released on Sunday, the upstream regulator noted that the latest production figure enabled Nigeria to exceed its production quota under the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
According to the NUPRC, the country achieved 104 per cent of its OPEC crude oil production target of 1.5 million barrels per day during the month.
The commission described the development as a significant milestone for the petroleum industry, noting that crude oil production, excluding condensates, had reached its highest level in more than six years.
The regulator's data showed a steady increase in output over recent months. Production rose from 1.31 million bpd in February to 1.38 million bpd in March, climbed further to 1.48 million bpd in April and reached 1.53 million bpd in May before rising to 1.56 million bpd in June.
In addition to crude oil production, Nigeria produced about 180,000 barrels of condensate per day in June.
This pushed the country's combined crude oil and condensate production to an average of 1.74 million barrels per day during the period under review.
“The statistics show that Nigeria has maintained an upward trajectory,” the commission said, noting that combined production increased from 1.483 million bpd in February to 1.735 million bpd in June.
The NUPRC disclosed that peak production during the month reached 1.89 million barrels per day, a level it said demonstrates the country's potential to attain the two million barrels per day threshold in the near future.
The commission attributed the improved performance to stable operations across oil-producing assets and the absence of major disruptions to pipeline infrastructure.
According to the regulator, enhanced operational efficiency and improved crude evacuation processes also contributed to the increase in output.
“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 commission stated.
Nigeria's oil sector has in recent years struggled with challenges including crude theft, pipeline vandalism and operational disruptions, factors that often constrained production and prevented the country from meeting its OPEC allocation.
However, industry observers say recent improvements in security around oil infrastructure and sustained efforts by operators have helped reverse the trend.
The latest production figures are expected to strengthen government revenues and foreign exchange earnings at a time when the country is seeking to boost economic growth and improve fiscal stability.
With output now above its OPEC quota and approaching the two million barrels per day mark when condensates are included, attention is likely to focus on whether the country can sustain the momentum in the months ahead.
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