Nigeria has reached a significant milestone in its oil sector by achieving its 1.5 million barrels per day production quota set by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) for June 2025.
According to OPEC’s latest Monthly Oil Market Report, the country’s crude output increased to 1.505 million barrels per day, up from 1.453 million barrels in May. This marks the first time in several years that Nigeria has met its OPEC production target, representing a notable recovery from previous production challenges.
The achievement comes after sustained efforts to address pipeline vandalism, oil theft, and underinvestment that have plagued Nigeria’s oil industry. While this represents progress, the current production level still falls short of the 2.06 million barrels per day target outlined in Nigeria’s 2025 national budget.
NNPC Group Chief Executive Officer Bayo Ojulari has expressed optimism about future production growth, projecting that Nigeria could reach 1.9 million barrels per day by December 2025, with a medium-term goal of 2.06 million barrels by 2027.
Industry analysts attribute the production increase to improved security measures across Nigeria’s oil infrastructure network.
Ojulari recently revealed that the country achieved 100% crude oil pipeline availability throughout June – a rare accomplishment in recent years. When including condensates, Nigeria’s total liquid production currently stands at approximately 1.63 million barrels per day.
The NNPC has also made progress in meeting its joint venture cash-call obligations, which has helped stabilize operations and attract investment.
Despite these positive developments, challenges remain for Nigeria’s oil sector. Sustaining the current production levels will require continued investment in infrastructure maintenance and security.
Experts emphasize the need for further reforms to fully recover Nigeria’s production capacity and meet its budget targets. The country’s oil output had previously hovered around 1.1 million barrels per day in 2023 before gradually increasing to 1.4 million barrels in early 2025.
As OPEC+ continues to monitor production compliance among member states, Nigeria’s ability to maintain or exceed its quota could influence future production policies within the organization.
The recent production figures suggest Nigeria may finally be turning around years of underperformance in its crucial oil sector, which remains vital for government revenues and economic stability.
However, analysts caution that sustained progress will depend on maintaining current security gains and implementing additional measures to attract investment and improve operational efficiency across the industry.
