Nigeria’s Oil Output Hits 1.68m Barrels Per Day as OPEC Compliance Continues

Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production rose slightly to about 1.68 million barrels per day in August 2026, as the country maintained compliance with its OPEC production quota for a fourth consecutive month.

The latest figures were disclosed by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), which said total daily production averaged 1,677,777 barrels in August.

Crude oil production alone stood at 1,500,190 barrels per day, while the remaining volume came from condensates.

The August figure represents a modest increase from the 1.67 million barrels per day recorded in July when crude oil and condensate production are combined.

Why Production Increased

NUPRC attributed the improvement partly to the resolution of operational problems involving the Single Buoy Mooring at the Erha field.

The disruption had affected production and crude evacuation during the previous month.

The regulator said most other producing assets remained relatively stable, while operators continued efforts to improve efficiency, maintain infrastructure and reduce operational disruptions.

Nigeria’s OPEC Compliance

Nigeria has now met its OPEC crude oil production quota for four consecutive months.

OPEC’s own direct-communication figures put Nigeria’s crude production at 1.5 million barrels per day in August, down slightly from 1.505 million barrels per day in July.

The figure nevertheless remained around Nigeria’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day.

The distinction between the NUPRC and OPEC figures is important because NUPRC’s 1.68 million barrels per day figure includes condensates, while OPEC’s quota comparison focuses on crude oil.

What It Means for Nigeria

Oil remains one of Nigeria’s most important sources of government revenue and foreign exchange.

Higher and more stable production could therefore help Nigeria benefit from the current strong oil-price environment, particularly as international crude prices remain elevated because of supply disruptions in the Middle East.

The International Energy Agency has warned that global oil supply could fall significantly in 2026 as disruptions continue across the Gulf region.

For Nigeria, the combination of higher oil prices and improved production could provide additional revenue. However, the country still faces challenges including production disruptions, ageing infrastructure, oil theft and the need to attract more investment into the upstream sector.

Dangote Refinery Also Boosts Local Demand

Nigeria’s oil market is also changing as the Dangote Refinery increases its purchases of locally produced crude.

Reuters reported that the refinery has secured at least 16 million barrels of Nigerian crude for delivery in October, equivalent to roughly 520,000 barrels per day and a substantial portion of the refinery’s 700,000-barrel-per-day capacity.

The development could reduce the amount of Nigerian crude available for export while increasing the role of domestic refining in the country’s energy market.

Key Facts

• Nigeria produced an average 1,677,777 barrels of crude oil and condensates per day in August 2026.

• Crude oil alone averaged about 1.50 million barrels per day.

• Nigeria met its OPEC crude production quota for the fourth consecutive month.

• NUPRC linked part of the August improvement to the resolution of operational problems at the Erha field.

• Nigeria’s oil production remains important for government revenue and foreign exchange earnings.

• Dangote Refinery has secured at least 16 million barrels of Nigerian crude for October delivery.

Sources

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC)
OPEC
PUNCH
Reuters
International Energy Agency