The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) says Nigeria’s crude oil production increased to 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2026, according to its latest Monthly Oil Market Report released on Monday.
The figure reflects a modest recovery in output, although Nigeria remains below its assigned production quota.
OPEC data shows production rose from 1.31 million bpd recorded in February, representing a 5.25 per cent increase. The figures were based on direct communication with Nigerian authorities.
However, data from secondary sources placed Nigeria’s output higher at 1.46 million bpd in March, up from 1.44 million bpd in February—highlighting slight discrepancies in reporting methodologies.
Despite the improvement, Nigeria fell short of its 1.5 million bpd quota by about 117,000 bpd, underscoring persistent gaps between actual production and target levels.
OPEC typically relies on two data streams to monitor crude oil output among member countries. Primary data is sourced directly from national authorities, while secondary estimates come from independent energy intelligence platforms—often resulting in minor variations.
Nigeria’s oil production has fluctuated in recent months due to a mix of operational and structural challenges within the sector. Nevertheless, the country retained its position as Africa’s top oil producer in March, outperforming Libya, which recorded 1.30 million bpd.
Overall, OPEC reported that total crude output from member countries averaged 35.06 million bpd in March, reflecting broader supply adjustments across the alliance.
Meanwhile, figures from Nigerian authorities indicate higher production levels than OPEC estimates. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission reported output at 1.84 million bpd in early April, while the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited put production at 1.71 million bpd.
The variation underscores differences in reporting timelines and methodologies. As Nigeria seeks to ramp up output, bridging the gap between actual production and its OPEC quota remains a key priority for the oil sector.
Separately, earlier reports indicated a sharp drop in OPEC crude production in March, with output falling significantly due to supply disruptions, reversing earlier efforts by OPEC+ countries to gradually restore production.
