By Our Correspondent

National News – Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries has revealed that Nigeria failed to meet its crude oil production quota for the eighth consecutive month, raising fresh concerns about the country’s oil output and revenue performance.

The latest data shows that Nigeria produced an average of 1.38 million barrels per day (mbpd) in March 2026, falling short of its 1.5 mbpd allocation.

According to the April report, the shortfall of about 117,000 barrels per day occurred despite a modest increase from February’s 1.31 mbpd.

The decline, which began in July 2025, has persisted due to operational disruptions, maintenance activities, and infrastructure challenges affecting production across key oil assets in the country.

Data from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission indicates that output weakened toward the end of 2025, dropping from 1.436 mbpd in November to 1.422 mbpd in December before a slight rebound in January.

However, this recovery was short-lived as production dipped again in February, widening the gap between actual output and the OPEC target.

Officials say the situation began to improve in mid-March after major facilities resumed operations following maintenance.

The regulator expressed optimism that Nigeria could meet or even exceed its quota in April if current production stability is sustained.

Nigeria’s inability to meet its quota is impacting both export earnings and domestic refining capacity.

Local refineries, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, have struggled with inadequate crude supply, forcing authorities to explore sourcing oil from international traders to maintain operations.

Globally, other OPEC members recorded mixed production levels, with some countries implementing sharp cuts while others posted marginal increases.

Analysts warn that Nigeria must address persistent production challenges to remain competitive and maximise revenue from the global oil market.