Nigeria's Oil Production Surpasses OPEC Quota Amid Security Efforts

Nigeria's crude oil output has exceeded the OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day for the first time in years, largely due to the efforts of Tantita Security Services, a private security firm founded by Chief Government Ekpemupolo, also known as Tompolo. Oil production had previously fallen below one million barrels per day due to issues such as pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and insecurity in the Niger Delta.

Tantita was appointed by President Muhammadu Buhari in August 2022 through the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL) to secure oil infrastructure and combat oil theft. President Bola Tinubu renewed Tantita's contract, recognizing its success in improving oil production, which reached 1.555 million barrels per day in June 2026, the highest since April 2020.

Tony Elumelu, a significant investor in the oil sector, noted improvements in the containment of oil theft under President Tinubu's administration.