Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production surpassed its Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) quota in June 2025, marking the second time this year that Africa’s largest oil producer has exceeded its official allocation.
According to figures released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), the country produced an average of 1,505,474 barrels of crude per day in June, equivalent to 100.4% of its OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd).
Total oil production, which includes crude and condensate, averaged approximately 1.7 million bpd for the month. This represents a clear improvement over recent months, with May’s crude-only output at 1.45 million bpd and combined crude and condensate production at 1.65 million bpd.
The report highlighted daily production lows and highs in June, noting:
“Lowest and peak combined crude oil and condensate production in June were 1.61 million bpd and 1.82 million bpd, respectively,” the NUPRC said.
“The daily average production in June was 1,697,045 barrels per day, comprising crude oil (1,505,474 bpd) and condensate (191,572 bpd).”
Despite the milestone of meeting its OPEC quota, Nigeria’s output remains well below the ambitious target of 2.06 million bpd projected in the federal government’s 2025 budget.
Speaking recently, Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) Group Chief Executive Officer, Bayo Ojulari, expressed cautious optimism about the country’s production trajectory. He outlined a medium-term goal of reaching 2.06 million bpd by 2027, while aiming for a shorter-term target of 1.9 million bpd by December 2025.
“We have started growing. In March, we were producing about 1.56 million barrels per day, and we’re now at 1.63 million, including condensates. By the end of the year, we are hoping to clock 1.9 million barrels daily,” Ojulari said.
He attributed part of June’s production success to improved pipeline security and reliability, noting that Nigeria achieved 100% availability on its major crude oil pipelines throughout the month—a significant turnaround for an industry often plagued by sabotage and theft.
“For the first time in a long while, the nation enjoyed 100% crude oil pipeline availability throughout June,” Ojulari noted.
“This feat, achieved through industry-wide security interventions led by the NNPC, has been instrumental in boosting output.”
Despite these gains, Ojulari stressed the need for increased investment to sustain and expand production. He highlighted improvements in the company’s ability to meet its cash-call obligations for joint venture operations, helping to restore confidence among industry partners.
Industry analysts suggest that with improved security, infrastructure upgrades, and consistent investment, Nigeria could maintain its upward production trend in the coming months. However, they caution that meeting the federal budget’s ambitious production targets will require significant, sustained progress on multiple fronts.