According to the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries’ most recent monthly report, Nigeria remains Africa’s greatest crude oil producer, having increased output to 1.45 million barrels per day in March.
The amount represents a growth from 1.42 million bpd in December 2025, according to data gathered through direct connection with Nigerian authorities.
However, OPEC reported that March output fell 2.11 percent month on month, highlighting the volatility that continues to impact global oil markets.
Despite the slight decline, Nigeria retained its supremacy on the continent, ahead of Libya, which produced 1.37 million bpd over the same period. The results confirm Nigeria’s strategic relevance in the African energy scene and the broader OPEC alliance.
OPEC collects output statistics through two key channels: direct submissions from member states and secondary sources like independent energy intelligence platforms.
Secondary data showed Nigeria’s output in January was slightly higher at 1.47 million bpd, down 1.34 percent from 1.49 million bpd in December.
The oil cartel also stated that overall crude production from the Declaration of Cooperation group averaged 42.45 million bpd in January 2026, a 439,000 bpd decrease from the previous month.
Nigeria nonetheless fell short of its 1.5 million bpd output target by approximately 50,000 bpd. Nonetheless, recent domestic data point to more upside potential. On February 10, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, stated that Nigeria’s oil output, including condensates, was at 1.75 million bpd.