A review of monthly crude oil production data released by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) shows that Nigeria recorded its lowest crude oil output in ten months in September 2025.
According to the report, Nigeria’s crude oil production stood at 1.39 million barrels per day (bpd) in September, dropping from 1.43 million bpd in August and 1.50 million bpd in July 2025.
Further data revealed that production levels in previous months were as follows:
June 2025: 1.50 million bpd May 2025: 1.45 million bpd April 2025: 1.48 million bpd March 2025: 1.40 million bpd February 2025: 1.46 million bpd January 2025: 1.53 million bpd December 2024: 1.48 million bpd
Out of the ten months reviewed, Nigeria failed to meet OPEC’s production quota of 1.5 million barrels per day on seven occasions.
Nigeria’s crude oil production has been repeatedly hindered by pipeline vandalism, oil theft, sabotage, and poor sector management. These long-standing challenges continue to prevent the country from achieving its full production potential.
Industry analysts have urged the federal government to take decisive action to address these systemic issues, warning that continued underproduction could negatively impact national revenue and economic growth.
Despite rising production levels, Nigeria has struggled to meet local refinery demand for crude oil.
According to data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), a total of 67,657,559 barrels of crude oil were supplied to local refiners between January and August 2025.
NUPRC’s Head of Media and Strategic Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, confirmed that the allocations were made in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation (DCSO) policy.
“A total of 67,657,559 barrels were delivered to local refiners between January and August this year. All refiners received their allocations within the eight-month period,” Akinkuotu stated.
However, a report by the NUPRC revealed that local refineries required an estimated 123.4 million barrels of crude oil between January and June 2025 — an average of 770,500 barrels per day or 23.8 million barrels per month.
This means that with only 67.7 million barrels supplied, Nigeria was unable to provide about 55.8 million barrels, representing a shortfall of roughly 45% in meeting domestic crude demand.
Earlier reports by SaharaReporters showed that Nigeria imported fuel worth ₦4.13 trillion between January and June 2025, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).
This continued dependence on imported refined petroleum products underscores the ongoing disconnect between crude oil production and domestic refining capacity — a challenge that remains central to Nigeria’s energy sector reform agenda.
