Despite not meeting OPEC quota in 3 months, Nigeria remains Africa’s top oil producer

Nigeria’s crude oil production in October fell below its assigned quota of 1.5 million barrels per day (bpd), according to data from the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).

In its latest monthly report on Tuesday, OPEC said Nigeria’s oil output rose to 1.4 million bpd in October — a 0.72 percent rise from 1.39 million bpd in the previous month.

Despite the increased volume, analysis of the oil cartel’s data showed that the country did not meet its OPEC quota for three consecutive months.

The West African oil-producing giant had drilled 1.39 million bpd and 1.43 million bpd of crude in September and August, respectively.

Speaking on the current output report, the oil alliance said its figures were derived from direct communication with Nigerian authorities.

OPEC normally sources its crude oil output data from two channels: direct communication from member countries and secondary sources such as energy intelligence platforms.

The group said Nigeria, with the current production level, maintained its position as Africa’s leading oil producer, followed closely by Libya, which recorded an output of 1.35 million bpd.

The oil cartel said data from secondary sources estimated Nigeria’s crude oil production at 1.506 million bpd in October — a 1.01 percent rise from the 1.491 million bpd recorded in September.

“Total DoC crude oil production averaged 43.02 mb/d in October 2025, which is 73 tb/d lower, m-o-m,” OPEC said, citing secondary sources.

On November 3, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited said the country remains on track to increase crude oil production to two million bpd by 2027 and three million bpd by 2030.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) had said the 2025 oil block licensing bid round would commence by December 1.

The move is aimed at increasing production by an additional one million barrels, Gbenga Komolafe, the chief executive officer (CEO) of the NUPRC, had said at a recent stakeholders engagement in London.