Nigeria’s crude oil production increased to 1.459 million barrels per day (bpd) in January 2026, maintaining its position as Africa’s largest oil producer.
However, the country missed its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota for the sixth consecutive month, with output falling short of the 1.5 million bpd target.
The data, sourced from OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, shows a month-on-month increase of 37,000 bpd, indicating gradual recovery in output levels despite ongoing structural and operational challenges.
The increase in production is attributed to improved security measures and infrastructure upgrades, but persistent oil theft, pipeline vandalism, and underinvestment in upstream assets continue to hinder growth.
Libya ranked second in Africa with 1.37 million bpd, while OPEC reported a decline in total crude oil production by Declaration of Cooperation (DoC) countries.
