Although Nigeria met its quota in January 2025 with a production level of 1.5 million barrels per day, output dropped sharply to 1.46 million barrels per day in February 2025.
A SaharaReporters' review of crude oil production data from the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries in its monthly report has shown that Nigeria, under the President Bola Tinubu-led government, failed to consistently meet its crude oil production quota in 2025.
According to the reviewed document, Nigeria’s crude oil output remained below its estimated quota of 1.5 million barrels per day for most of the year. In the second quarter of 2025, Nigeria averaged 1.48 million barrels daily, declining to 1.44 million barrels daily in the third quarter and further to 1.42 million barrels daily in the fourth quarter of 2025.
Although Nigeria met its quota in January 2025 with a production level of 1.5 million barrels per day, output dropped sharply to 1.46 million barrels per day in February 2025.
Nigeria’s crude oil production in March 2025 stood at 1.4 million barrels per day. Output rose slightly to 1.48 million barrels per day in April before falling again to 1.45 million barrels per day in May.
Production figures for June and July 2025 were both reported at 1.5 million barrels per day, representing the only two consecutive months in 2025 during which Nigeria met the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries quota.
However, production declined again in the subsequent months. In August, output fell to 1.4 million barrels per day. October 2025 also recorded an average daily production of 1.4 million barrels, while November stood at 1.43 million barrels per day. By December 2025, Nigeria’s crude oil production had declined further to an average of 1.42 million barrels per day.
Using data from the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission, SaharaReporters earlier reported that Nigeria’s crude oil production continued a downward trend in October 2025, with the month recording the lowest average daily output in seven months.
According to the reviewed data, average daily production in October stood at 1.30 million barrels, down from 1.38 million barrels recorded in September and 1.37 million barrels posted in August.
The average for July was 1.40 million barrels per day, while June recorded 1.42 million barrels per day.
In May, Nigeria produced an average of 1.35 million barrels per day, the same figure recorded in April. March recorded the lowest output earlier in the year, at 1.29 million barrels per day, a figure lower than that recorded in October 2025. In February, daily crude oil output averaged 1.35 million barrels per day, while January recorded 1.39 million barrels per day.
Industry experts have urged the government to intensify efforts to address the persistent production challenges, warning that continued shortfalls could undermine Nigeria’s revenue generation and overall economic growth.
SaharaReporters earlier reported that Nigeria has also struggled to meet local refinery demand for crude oil, compounding the impact of its inability to consistently meet the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries production quota.