Riding on the back of stable production and lack of major pipeline infractions championed by Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited (PINL) and other security agencies, Nigeria has exceeded its crude oil production quota set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The nation’s crude output climbed to its highest level in more than six years, according to new data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
NUPRC said that total oil output, including condensates, reached 1.735 million bpd, the highest level in over six years and the fourth consecutive month of growth.
Nigeria exceeded its OPEC crude oil quota by producing an average of 1.56 million barrels per day in June 2026, about 4% above the 1.5 million bpd limit.
Stable production and the lack of major pipeline outages were key factors driving this improved performance.
This milestone marks a significant turnaround after years of challenges like theft, vandalism, and underinvestment that previously restrained output.
PINL, since coming on board as the surveillance contractor on the eastern corridor of the Trans Niger Pipeline TNP deployed wide range community-driven pipeline protection strategies that have boosted security on pipeline right of way and continued to increase pipeline throughput.
Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Corporate Communications at the NUPRC, the regulator said Nigeria produced an average of 1.56 million barrels of crude oil per day (bpd) in June 2026, surpassing its OPEC production quota of 1.5 million bpd by about 4%.
With condensate production averaging approximately 180,000 bpd, Nigeria’s combined crude oil and condensate output reached 1.735 million bpd during the month.
The June performance marks the fourth consecutive month of production growth and represents Nigeria’s highest crude oil output since April 2020, making it a 74-month high.
The achievement is a notable turnaround for Nigeria, which has spent years battling crude oil theft, pipeline vandalism, underinvestment, and operational disruptions that frequently kept production below its OPEC allocation.
According to the NUPRC, the improved performance was driven by stable production operations across most producing assets and the absence of major pipeline outages during the review period.
The regulator said the improved operational environment boosted production uptime and enhanced crude evacuation efficiency, enabling operators to sustain higher output levels.
Nigeria’s combined crude oil and condensate production peaked at 1.89 million bpd during June, while the lowest daily production recorded during the month was 1.57 million bpd.
The figures underscore the country’s growing capacity to move closer to the federal government’s long-standing target of producing 2 million bpd.
The latest production data also strengthens Nigeria’s standing within OPEC at a time when several member countries are gradually unwinding voluntary output cuts.
Sustained production above the country’s quota could bolster government revenues, improve foreign exchange earnings, and reinforce investor confidence as authorities continue efforts to secure oil infrastructure and attract fresh upstream investment.
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Seunmanuel Faleye is a brand and communications strategist. He is a covert writer and an overt creative head. He publishes Apple’s Bite International Magazine.
