Nigeria recorded a modest recovery in its petroleum sector as crude oil production increased to 1.38 million barrels per day (bpd) in March 2026.
The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) disclosed these figures in its latest monthly oil market report released on Monday.
This new data reflects ongoing attempts to stabilize national output despite lingering operational hurdles.
The nation saw a 5.25% rise from the 1.31 million bpd recorded in February.
Primary Data Confirms Africa’s Leading Position
The organization relies on direct communication with Nigerian authorities to verify these primary production figures.
Meanwhile, secondary sources, including independent energy intelligence platforms, placed Nigeria’s output even higher at 1.46 million bpd for the same period.
“The figures show a slight improvement in the country’s crude oil output for the month of March,” the report from Nairametrics stated.
“Nigeria fell short of its 1.5 million bpd quota by approximately 117,000 bpd during this window,” the publication added.
Despite the shortfall, Nigeria maintained its status as the top oil producer on the continent, outperforming even Libya, which reported a production level of 1.30 million bpd.
Libya had briefly challenged Nigeria’s dominance in previous months. However, the latest data confirms that Nigerian fields are recovering faster amid a broader decline in total crude output across the OPEC alliance.
Discrepancies in National Reporting Methodologies
Total crude output from all member countries averaged 35.06 million bpd in March. This represents a month-on-month decline of 7.70 million bpd across the global alliance.
Interestingly, local figures from Nigerian agencies suggest even higher performance levels than the international report.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) reported production at 1.84 million bpd in early April.
The NUPRC serves as the technical regulator for the industry, ensuring that operators comply with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021.
“The variation in figures highlights differences in reporting methodologies and timelines,” a technical source explained.
“The Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited stated that output stood at 1.71 million bpd,” the official continued.
Closing the gap between these actual production levels and the official OPEC quota remains a priority. This is especially vital as global supply plunged by 27.5% in March due to geopolitical disruptions.
Before the regional conflicts erupted on February 28, 2026, many OPEC+ nations had been restoring production. Now, the market faces significant volatility as member states adjust to new supply realities.
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