By Our Correspondent
National News – Nigeria’s crude oil production has climbed to about 1.84 million barrels per day (mbpd), according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The announcement was made on Friday, April 3, 2026, following a meeting between the commission’s leadership and officials at the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters in Abuja, Nigeria.
The development highlights a notable rebound in the country’s oil sector after earlier disruptions to production.
The Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, disclosed the figures during a visit to the ministry where she met with the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun.
According to the commission, the improved output reflects ongoing efforts by the Nigerian government and industry regulators to strengthen the petroleum sector and boost national revenue.
Edun commended the commission for the progress, describing the increase in daily production as encouraging and aligned with the economic agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
He emphasized that the government expects production levels to continue rising, noting that the administration’s long-term target is to reach two million barrels per day.
The minister also stressed the importance of maintaining consistent growth rather than temporary gains.
The rise in output comes after production dropped earlier in February 2026 due to operational challenges affecting key oil facilities and scheduled maintenance activities.
Eyesan explained that the affected infrastructure had since been repaired, allowing production levels to rebound significantly by March 2026.
Beyond the production increase, the NUPRC chief also provided updates on the 2025 licensing round, which is currently undergoing technical and financial evaluation stages.
She expressed optimism that several oil blocks could begin producing within a year, especially as indigenous oil companies continue to demonstrate stronger operational capacity.
Eyesan further confirmed that the commission had complied with Executive Order 9 of 2026, which suspended the 30 percent Frontier Exploration Fund deduction from profit oil and gas revenues.
The directive ensures that such funds are now remitted directly to the federation account.
Industry observers say the surge in production—from about 1.48mbpd in February to 1.84mbpd in March—could improve government revenue, stabilize energy supply, and strengthen Nigeria’s economic outlook if the momentum is sustained.
