Nigeria Surpasses OPEC Oil Quota Amid Theft Crackdown

Nigeria's crude oil production exceeded its OPEC quota for the first time in years, reaching 104 percent of its production quota in June 2026, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). This increase is attributed to the Nigerian Navy's intensified efforts against crude oil theft and illegal refining under Operation Delta Sentinel.

Navy Captain Abiodun Folorunsho reported that during the second quarter of 2026, the Navy recovered more than 4.698 million litres of stolen crude oil and illegally refined petroleum products. The operation included intelligence-driven actions that led to the interception of vessels linked to oil theft and the destruction of criminal logistics networks.

Notable achievements included the arrest of motor tankers MKPODU, WESTAF, and STELIOS K, connected to the theft of over 900 metric tonnes of suspected stolen crude oil. The Navy also dismantled illegal refining camps and prevented the reactivation of previously dismantled sites, contributing to improved security around critical oil infrastructure and supporting the Federal Government's goal of increasing production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.