Nigeria's Crude Oil Production Inches Up to 1.38mbpd in March, OPEC Reports

Nigeria's crude oil output experienced a modest increase in March 2026, reaching an average of 1.38 million barrels per day (mbpd). This data, sourced from direct communications with Nigerian authorities and published in the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries' (OPEC) latest monthly oil market report, signifies a 5.25 percent growth compared to the 1.31 mbpd recorded in February.

Despite the positive trend, Nigeria's production level for March was still approximately 117,000 bpd short of its assigned OPEC production quota, which stands at 1.5 million bpd. Reports from secondary sources, including energy intelligence platforms and independent estimates, suggested a slightly higher output for Nigeria, placing it at 1.46 mbpd for the same period.

Even with these varying figures, Nigeria maintained its position as the leading oil producer in Africa for March, surpassing Libya's output of 1.30 mbpd. This performance comes at a time when the nation's oil sector continues to grapple with operational and structural challenges that have led to fluctuations in production throughout the early part of the year.

In contrast to Nigeria's performance, the overall crude production within the OPEC alliance saw a substantial drop in March, falling by 7.88 million bpd to an average of 20.79 million bpd. This decline of 27.5 percent represents one of the most significant supply disruptions witnessed in decades, largely attributed to the regional conflict that began on February 28.

Prior to the conflict, OPEC+ nations had been working towards a gradual restoration of production levels. However, the current market circumstances have necessitated major adjustments across the alliance.

Nigerian authorities have also presented figures indicating even higher production levels. The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported an output of 1.84 mbpd in early April, while the NNPCL estimated production at 1.71 mbpd.

These discrepancies in reporting highlight the complexities of tracking oil output in real-time, particularly during periods of market volatility. For Nigeria's oil industry, the ongoing priority remains bridging the gap between current production and OPEC-mandated targets. This effort is crucial for maximizing revenue from global market opportunities and securing the nation's energy income.