Lagos, Nigeria – The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) reported that Nigeria’s daily crude oil production increased to 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2026. This figure marks a 5.25 percent rise from the 1.31 million bpd recorded in February.
The data, based on direct communication with Nigerian officials, shows a modest recovery but remains below the nation’s 1.5 million bpd OPEC quota by about 117,000 barrels. Despite this shortfall, Nigeria maintained its rank as Africa’s largest crude oil producer, ahead of Libya. According to Okay News, this production increase is a positive sign amid ongoing operational challenges.
There is often a variance in reported figures, as OPEC also consults secondary sources like energy intelligence platforms, which placed March production higher at 1.46 million bpd. Nigerian regulatory bodies have also reported different figures, highlighting variations in data collection methods and timing. These discrepancies are a recurring feature in the sector’s production reporting.
Efforts continue to stabilize and increase the nation’s crude oil output. Closing the gap between actual production and assigned OPEC quotas remains a key priority for Nigeria’s oil sector as it works to overcome structural and operational hurdles.
