Nigeria's Oil Output Grows 2% in First Half of 2026

In the first half of 2026, Nigeria's oil output rose by 2%, reaching a total of 8,734,700 barrels, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). This figure represents an increase from the second half of 2025, which recorded 8,590,746 barrels, but a decline from the first half of 2025's 8,848,601 barrels.

Monthly production figures showed daily outputs of 1,459,240 barrels in January, 1,313,690 in February, and a gradual increase to 1,560,000 barrels in June. The Nigerian government, under Minister of State for Petroleum Resources Heineken Lokpobiri, aims to achieve a daily production target of 2 million barrels by the end of 2026.

The increase in output is linked to efforts to combat oil theft and pipeline sabotage, which have restored investor confidence in the sector. Analysts believe this growth will stabilize foreign reserves and support the naira against inflationary pressures.