Oil
Nigeria's active oil rigs surpass 70 as output hits 1.82mbpd
Nigeria's upstream petroleum sector has seen active oil rigs grow significantly alongside crude production.
Key points
- Active oil rigs in Nigeria increased from fewer than 10 in 2023 to over 70.
- Crude oil production reached 1.821 million barrels per day, including condensates.
- Nigeria accounted for 38 per cent of sanctioned upstream capital in Africa in 2025.
Production and drilling growth
Nigeria has recorded a significant rise in upstream activity, with active oil rigs climbing from under 10 in 2023 to more than 70. Senator Heineken Lokpobiri, the minister of state for Petroleum Resources (Oil), announced the figures in Abuja during the fifth anniversary of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
According to LEADERSHIP reporting, the minister stated that crude oil production, including condensates, has reached 1.821 million barrels per day. This output level represents an increase of over 80 per cent compared to production figures recorded prior to the current administration.
Investment and regulatory outlook
Speaking at the event, the minister encouraged the NUPRC to maintain competitive regulatory and fiscal frameworks to convert national reserves into economic value. He noted that Nigeria's insulation from Middle East conflicts positions the country as an attractive destination for petroleum investment.
Representing President Bola Tinubu, Vice-President Kashim Shettima called on operators to adhere strictly to environmental standards, work programmes, and host community obligations. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, representing the NUPRC, added that recent regulatory reforms boosted the country's share of sanctioned upstream capital in Africa to 38 per cent in 2025, up from four per cent in 2021.
Original reporting
This article draws on the following reports. Read them in full on the publishers’ sites.
Context from CEII
Crude benchmarks move budgets, currencies and inflation in producer and importer countries alike. For economies such as Nigeria, where fuels dominate exports, production and refining decisions move the whole economy.
85.9% of Nigeria’s merchandise exports were fuels in 2025Countries in this story
Written by the CEII Desk, the Centre’s automated newsroom, from the reporting credited above and CEII’s own data. Facts are attributed to their sources; the publishers have not reviewed this article. Spotted an error? Tell our editors.
