Nigerian crude oil production reached 1.84 million barrels per day, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) confirmed on April 2, 2026. Commission Chief Executive Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan disclosed this during a meeting with Finance Minister Wale Edun at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja. She attributed a previous drop in output in February to incidents affecting key facilities and scheduled maintenance, both of which have since been resolved. Production has since recovered, with further increases expected.
Eyesan credited the rebound to improved sector management and enforcement of the "drill or drop" provision in the Petroleum Industry Act, which allows the NUPRC to reclaim unused oil blocks. She said the 2025 licensing round is now in the technical and financial evaluation phase, with some new acreages potentially delivering output within a year. Indigenous oil companies are actively participating, demonstrating growing capacity. The NUPRC also confirmed full compliance with Executive Order 9 of 2026, halting the 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund deduction from profit oil and gas, with all proceeds now going directly to the Federation Account.
Edun praised the current output level, calling it "fantastic news" and aligned with President Bola Tinubu's mandate. He urged the NUPRC to sustain momentum and push toward 2 million barrels per day.
Hitting 1.84 million barrels per day is progress, but the real test is whether NUPRC can maintain it without relying on temporary fixes. Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan's report of restored output after facility incidents suggests fragility, not stability. The suspension of the 30 per cent FEF deduction means more revenue for the Federation Account now, but could dampen long-term frontier exploration if investors see reduced incentives. For Nigerians, that trade-off may mean short-term gains but fewer future reserves.
