Oil
Nigeria crude output rises to 1.53m BPD in September
OPEC data shows Nigeria maintained its position as Africa's top oil producer while meeting its quota for five consecutive months.
Key points
- Nigeria's crude production increased by two percent in September 2026 to reach 1.53 million barrels per day.
- The country successfully met its assigned OPEC production quota for the fifth straight month this year.
- Nigeria retained its status as the leading petroleum producer on the continent, ahead of Libya and Algeria.
Production growth
Nigeria experienced a modest increase in petroleum extraction during September 2026, according to figures released by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries. The latest monthly report from the oil alliance recorded national output at 1.53 million barrels per day, marking a two percent rise compared to the preceding month.
Quota compliance
According to TheCable, the September figures were compiled through direct communication channels between the organization and Nigerian authorities. This performance marks the fifth month in 2026 that the country has successfully matched or exceeded its designated production target of 1.5 million barrels per day.
Within the continental landscape, Nigeria maintained its standing as the foremost oil producer in Africa. Libya followed with an output of 1.39 million barrels per day, while Algeria recorded one million barrels per day.
Government measures
Addressing the nation's output trajectory earlier in October, Minister of Finance Taiwo Oyedele noted that administration initiatives have focused on mitigating theft and revising previous arrangements that previously restricted export volumes.
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.
