According to data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Nigeria's crude oil production declined to 1,400,783 barrels per day (bpd) in March, marking the lowest output since January.
The figures reveal a 4.38% decrease from February's production of 1,465,006 bpd, representing a reduction of 64,223 bpd. When condensate is included, total production dropped to 1.603 million bpd in March from 1.671 million bpd in February.
Despite the decrease, the NUPRC noted that March's average crude oil production achieved 93% of Nigeria's 1.5 million bpd quota allocated by the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC). Production levels fluctuated throughout the month, with the lowest combined output at 1.49 million bpd and the peak reaching 1.76 million bpd.
The current production remains well below the NUPRC's 2025 target of 2.1 million bpd. This decline comes as OPEC and its allies recently approved an increase in oil production by 411,000 bpd for May, amid falling oil prices that could potentially impact the implementation of Nigeria's 2025 budget.