Regulator reports a fifth consecutive month at or above quota; combined crude and condensate production averaged 1.72 million barrels per day.
Nigeria’s average crude oil production rose to approximately 1.53 million barrels per day in September 2026, putting the country slightly above its 1.5 million-barrel daily allocation under the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
Figures released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) showed that crude and condensate output combined averaged 1,717,030 barrels a day, an increase of 2.34 per cent from August. Total daily liquids production ranged from around 1.68 million to 1.84 million barrels during the month.
The commission said the result marked the fifth consecutive month in which Nigeria had met or exceeded its crude quota. Reported crude-only averages were 1.53 million barrels per day in May, 1.55 million in June, 1.51 million in July, approximately 1.50 million in August and 1.53 million in September.
NUPRC spokesperson Eniola Akinkuotu attributed the improvement to relatively stable operations, fewer major pipeline interruptions and better crude evacuation. The regulator said those conditions enabled producers to sustain output across operating assets.
Terminal data identified Forcados as the largest contributor, averaging 320,320 barrels daily, followed by Bonny with 303,270 barrels. The figures underline the importance of functioning export infrastructure to national production performance.
Nigeria has long contended with theft, vandalism, aging facilities and operational disruptions that limit the amount of crude it can produce and export. A sustained recovery would support foreign-exchange receipts and public finances, although higher production alone does not guarantee corresponding fiscal gains.
The government’s stated ambitions of two million barrels daily by 2027 and three million by 2030 remain considerably above the September crude-only figure. Reaching the nearer target would require an additional 470,000 barrels a day, alongside investment and continuing improvements in security and reliability.
