Nigeria's Oil Rig Count Surges 20% in Seven Months

Nigeria's oil rig count has surged by 20% in the first seven months of 2026, signaling a rebound in drilling activity and crude production. The country added three rigs to its active list, bringing the total to 18 in July, up from 15 in January.

The increase marks a gradual recovery in upstream activity after a sluggish 2025, when Nigeria averaged just 13 rigs for the year. Rig counts are closely monitored by the industry as a leading indicator of upstream health.

Nigeria's oil production has also seen an uptick, averaging 1.45 million barrels a day in the first quarter and climbing to 1.55 million barrels a day in the second. Output peaked at 1.583 million barrels a day in June but slipped to 1.546 million barrels a day in July due to field-level issues.