Nigeria has maintained its OPEC quota for the sixth consecutive month, even though the country’s crude oil production declined slightly in October 2026. Data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Wednesday, November 11, showed that Nigeria produced an average of 1.51 million barrels per day (bpd) of crude oil during the month, remaining above its allocation from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
The October figure represents approximately 101 per cent of Nigeria’s assigned production quota of 1.5 million bpd. However, the country recorded a 1.7 per cent decline compared with the 1.53 million bpd produced in September, indicating a slight moderation in crude oil output despite maintaining its compliance with the international production target.
The latest performance extends Nigeria’s run of meeting its OPEC quota, which began in May 2026 after several months of production challenges earlier in the year. The continued performance also comes as the Federal Government seeks to strengthen the country’s oil production capacity and improve revenue from the petroleum sector.
Nigeria Maintains OPEC Quota for Six Consecutive Months
According to the NUPRC figures, Nigeria’s crude oil production has remained at or above its assigned OPEC allocation for six consecutive months.
The country produced an average of 1.53 million bpd in May, before increasing to 1.55 million bpd in June. Production subsequently declined to 1.51 million bpd in July and reached 1.50 million bpd in August, matching the assigned quota.
Output recovered to 1.53 million bpd in September before dropping again to 1.51 million bpd in October. Despite these monthly fluctuations, Nigeria has maintained production at or above the 1.5 million bpd benchmark throughout the six-month period.
The figures suggest that the country’s production performance has remained relatively stable since May, although the latest decline highlights the difficulty of sustaining consistent growth in the upstream petroleum industry.
Nigeria’s OPEC allocation is based on crude oil production, excluding condensates. This distinction is important because condensates are lighter liquid hydrocarbons produced alongside natural gas and are reported separately when assessing compliance with the organisation’s crude oil production targets.
Total Crude Oil and Condensate Production Reaches 1.68 Million Bpd
When condensates are included, Nigeria recorded average daily production of 1,687,710 barrels in October, equivalent to approximately 1.69 million bpd.
The NUPRC data also showed that the country’s daily production reached a peak of 1.79 million barrels during the month, while the lowest recorded level stood at 1.60 million barrels per day.
A breakdown of production across terminals and streams showed that Forcados recorded the highest average daily output of crude oil and condensates at 318,490 barrels.
Bonny Terminal followed with 311,020 barrels per day, while Qua Iboe recorded an average of 173,970 barrels. Escravos Oil Terminal contributed 134,670 barrels per day, with Bonga ranking fifth at 106,650 barrels.
These figures highlight the contribution of major production terminals to Nigeria’s overall petroleum output during the review period.
NUPRC Attributes Production Stability to Improved Operations
The petroleum regulator attributed the relatively stable production performance in recent months to improved operational conditions across the upstream petroleum industry.
According to the commission, better production uptime and more efficient crude oil evacuation have supported output levels, helping operators maintain production despite existing operational challenges.
The NUPRC also highlighted the efforts of oil companies and other industry stakeholders to improve operational efficiency, maintain the integrity of production assets and strengthen reliability across the sector.
These improvements remain important to Nigeria’s efforts to sustain production because disruptions at oil fields, pipelines and evacuation facilities can affect the volume of crude reaching export terminals.
However, maintaining production above the OPEC quota does not necessarily mean that Nigeria has achieved its wider production potential. The October figures show that output remains below the 1.84 million bpd oil production benchmark used in the country’s 2026 budget.
The difference between the OPEC allocation and the national budget benchmark also highlights the additional production required to meet the government’s fiscal assumptions.
For Nigeria, sustaining the six-month production streak will depend on continued operational improvements, reliable infrastructure and the ability of industry operators to maintain consistent output.
Although October recorded a slight decline, the country remains above its OPEC allocation, making the next production reports important in determining whether Nigeria can maintain its performance through the final months of 2026.