Nigeria met its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) crude oil production quota for the fifth consecutive month in September 2026, producing an average of 1.53 million barrels per day (bpd), according to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The figure represents 102 per cent of Nigeria’s OPEC-assigned quota of 1.5 million bpd, excluding condensate, as the country sustained its recent production performance.
In a statement dated October 13, 2026, the NUPRC said Nigeria’s average daily production of crude oil and condensate rose by 2.34 per cent to 1,717,030 barrels in September compared with the previous month.
Daily production peaked at 1.84 million barrels during the month, while the lowest daily output was 1.68 million barrels, the data showed.
The latest figures extend a five-month run in which Nigeria met or exceeded its assigned OPEC crude oil quota. Production stood at 1.53 million bpd in May, rose to 1.55 million bpd in June, and then eased to 1.51 million bpd in July and 1.50 million bpd in August before recovering to 1.53 million bpd in September.
Pipeline Stability Supports Oil Production
The NUPRC attributed September’s improved performance largely to stable operations across most producing assets and the absence of major pipeline outages during the period.
According to the commission, the operating conditions helped improve production uptime and the efficiency of crude oil evacuation.
It said the sustained performance reflected efforts by operators and other industry stakeholders to improve operational efficiency, maintain asset integrity and strengthen production reliability across Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Consistent production and reliable evacuation remain important to Nigeria’s oil industry, which depends on crude exports for foreign exchange earnings and government revenue.
Forcados, Bonny Lead Terminal Output
A breakdown of average daily crude oil and condensate production by terminal and stream showed that Forcados Terminal recorded the highest output in September, at 320.32 thousand barrels per day.
Bonny Terminal followed with 303.27 thousand bpd.
The figures provide a snapshot of production contributions across Nigeria’s oil infrastructure during a month in which the country maintained its position as Africa’s largest crude oil producer, according to the NUPRC statement.
The data also highlight the importance of operational stability and uninterrupted pipeline infrastructure to sustaining production levels.
The statement was signed by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Corporate Communications at the NUPRC.
Nigeria’s continued compliance with its OPEC quota marks a sustained improvement in output performance, although maintaining the gains will depend on production reliability and the continued efficient movement of crude from producing fields to export terminals.
