Nigeria's Oil Output Slumps as Infrastructure Deficit Takes Toll
Nigeria's oil production has declined by three percent month-on-month to 1.51 million barrels per day (mb/d) in July 2026, according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). This decline ended four consecutive months of production increases and highlights the persistent structural challenges facing the country's upstream oil sector.
The production drop was largely driven by weaker output from major terminals, particularly Erha, Bonny, and Akpo. Erha recorded a 34kb/d decline to 31.98kb/d, while Bonny output dropped to 303.72kb/d from 318.28kb/d in June.
Analysts have consistently identified structural constraints as the biggest obstacle to sustained recovery in Nigeria's oil production. These include ageing midstream infrastructure, pipeline vandalism, inadequate evacuation capacity, and recurring bottlenecks around major export terminals.