Nigeria produced approximately 307 million barrels of crude oil and condensate between March and August 2026, as the Federal Government’s efforts to stabilise production and attract fresh upstream investment continue to reshape the country’s petroleum industry.
Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission showed combined crude and condensate production averaged approximately 1.67 million barrels per day during the six-month period.
The figures are significant for Africa’s major oil producer, where petroleum production remains an important source of government revenue and foreign-exchange earnings.
Production increased from about 1.56 million barrels per day in March to 1.66 million barrels per day in April before climbing to 1.70 million barrels per day in May.
Nigeria subsequently recorded its highest daily output during the period in June, when combined crude oil and condensate production reached approximately 1.74 million barrels per day.
Production Peaks in June
On a monthly basis, March production was estimated at approximately 48.49 million barrels, while April generated about 49.90 million barrels.
Output climbed to around 52.72 million barrels in May before June recorded approximately 52.06 million barrels.
Although the June monthly total was slightly lower than May because June has fewer days, its average daily production of 1.74 million barrels was the highest during the six-month period.
Production moderated after the June peak.
Nigeria recorded approximately 1.67 million barrels per day in July, equivalent to 51.80 million barrels, before output edged up to about 1.68 million barrels per day in August, producing approximately 52.01 million barrels.
Combined production over the period consequently reached about 306.99 million barrels.
Crude Accounts for Bulk of Output
Crude oil accounted for approximately 1.50 million barrels per day of average production during the period, while condensate contributed roughly 180,000 barrels per day.
The figures show that production remained above its March level even after output retreated from the June peak.
The recovery comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to attract investment, resolve operational bottlenecks and address crude theft and pipeline vandalism.
The Ministry of Petroleum Resources has said Nigeria’s crude oil and condensate production has increased by more than 400,000 barrels per day from earlier levels, while the number of active drilling rigs has risen substantially as upstream activity recovers.
FG Targets Higher Production
Despite the improvement, the Federal Government wants the industry to move beyond current production levels.
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, has repeatedly argued that increased production is critical to Nigeria’s ability to maximise its petroleum resources and attract additional capital.
The government has linked the industry’s recovery to implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, improved security around production facilities and measures intended to create greater regulatory certainty for investors.
For Nigeria, sustaining production increases could have implications beyond the petroleum industry.
Higher commercially realised output can support export earnings and government petroleum revenues, although the fiscal benefit also depends on global prices, production costs and the terms governing individual assets.
The latest NUPRC figures indicate that production recovered significantly between March and June before stabilising at slightly lower levels in July and August.
The challenge for the government will now be maintaining those gains while attracting enough investment to bring new and previously undeveloped resources into production.
