Nigeria has maintained its position as Africa’s largest crude oil producer, with an increase in daily production recorded in January 2026, according to the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) latest Monthly Oil Market Report.
TheWill News Data from the report shows Nigeria’s crude oil production rose to about 1.459 million barrels per day (bpd) in January, up from 1.422 million bpd in December 2025.
The month-on-month uptick of approximately 37,000 bpd reflects a modest but positive trend in output, albeit still below the country’s OPEC quota of 1.5 million bpd.
Despite not fully meeting its OPEC quota for the sixth consecutive month, Nigeria’s output remains higher than that of its closest continental competitors, with Libya ranked second at around 1.37 million bpd during the same period.
This performance ensures that Nigeria’s dominance in Africa’s oil sector continues, reinforcing its strategic importance to regional energy supply and export earnings.
OPEC also noted that secondary sources estimated Nigeria’s January production slightly higher, at about 1.47 million bpd, adding to indications of improving upstream performance.
While challenges persist including security issues, infrastructure constraints, and regulatory bottlenecks the increased output signals gradual recovery within the sector.
The Federal Government has outlined ambitious benchmarks in its medium-term energy outlook, targeting higher crude production rates to support economic stability and revenue generation, even as it balances quota commitments with broader fiscal and industrial priorities.
Image Credit: NaijaNews
Source: NaijaNews
