Nigeria’s Oil Output Climbs to Five-Year High at 1.71 Million Barrels Per Day

Nigeria’s crude oil production has reached 1.71 million barrels per day between April 2025 and April 2026, marking its highest level in five years, according to the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC).

The state-owned oil firm said the increase reflects a combination of upstream improvements, infrastructure upgrades, and ongoing sector reforms aimed at stabilising production and restoring investor confidence.

Alongside crude oil gains, Nigeria also maintained steady natural gas output at 7.5 billion standard cubic feet per day, supported by expanded gas infrastructure and industrial supply agreements.

NNPC noted that key infrastructure projects contributed to the improved performance, including the completion of the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano pipeline river crossing and the commissioning of new gas processing facilities across the country.

The company’s upstream subsidiary, NNPC Exploration and Production Limited, recorded a peak production level of 565,000 barrels per day in December 2025, underscoring the sector’s gradual recovery.

Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari, in the company’s One-Year Mandate Report Summary shared on social media platform X, said operational performance had improved across the value chain, from production to gas development and infrastructure delivery.

The report also highlighted expanded gas supply arrangements with major industrial players, including Dangote Cement and Dangote Refinery, as part of efforts to deepen domestic gas utilisation and support industrial growth.

NNPC further stated that it had consolidated its 7.25 percent equity stake in the Dangote Refinery and introduced an incorporated joint venture model to enhance operational efficiency and financial autonomy in refinery operations.

On governance, the company pointed to reforms such as monthly performance reporting, its first earnings call conducted in November 2025, and continued remittances to the federation account since July 2025.

According to NNPC, these measures are part of broader efforts to improve transparency, strengthen accountability, expand production capacity, and attract long-term investment into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.