Nigeria Crude Oil Production Hits 1.7 Million Barrels per Day in May

Nigeria's crude oil production has shown significant improvement in May 2026, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The country's total crude oil production, including condensates, increased by approximately 2.2% month-on-month to 1.70 million barrels per day (mbpd) in May, compared with 1.66mbpd in April.

Excluding condensates, crude oil output rose to about 1.53 mbpd from 1.49 mbpd in the preceding month, driven largely by the absence of major facility maintenance activities, pipeline vandalism, and significant crude oil theft during the period.

This marks a notable contrast to February, when total production declined by roughly 8.8% month-on-month to 1.48mbpd following the temporary shutdown of the Bonga facility for maintenance.

The improvement in production levels is expected to support crude export volumes and provide a positive boost to Nigeria's current account position and external reserves.