• Nigeria said it can increase oil output by about 100,000 barrels per day in the coming months.
• The country aims to reach 1.8 million b/d by end-2026 despite OPEC quota constraints.
• Output remains volatile and stood at about 1.46 million b/d in February 2026.

Nigeria said it can rapidly increase its oil production amid potential global supply disruptions. Bashir Bayo Ojulari, chief executive of Nigerian National Petroleum Company, said the country could add around 100,000 barrels per day in the coming months. He made the statement during the CERAWeek, which opened on Monday, March 23, in Houston.

He made the comments in response to questions about Nigeria’s capacity to offset part of a potential global supply shortfall linked to tensions in the Middle East involving Iran, the United States, and Israel.

The tensions have disrupted maritime traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, a route that carries about 20% of global crude oil flows. Although the executive said the country “can increase its production,” he did not specify a timeline for implementation.

Official data published in January 2026 showed that Nigeria produced between 1.6 million and 1.7 million barrels per day in 2025. The country targets output of about 1.8 million barrels per day by the end of 2026.

NNPC Ltd has launched a review of its asset portfolio to improve operational performance. The company aims to optimize project development timelines and reduce associated costs. It presented these measures as part of broader efforts to strengthen national production capacity.

Output Remains Constrained Despite Improvements

Nigeria’s oil production remains constrained by technical and regulatory factors despite recent signs of improvement. According to the March 2026 Monthly Oil Market Report published by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Nigeria’s oil output fell to about 1.46 million barrels per day in February, down by roughly 28,000 barrels per day from January.

This development comes as OPEC maintains strict production limits for Nigeria. In December 2025, the group decided to keep the country’s production quota unchanged at 1.5 million barrels per day, a measure already in force since December 2024.

At the same time, internal indicators point to improved operational performance. According to The Punch, NNPC Ltd reported a profit of 385 billion naira (about $280 million) in 2025, supported by higher national production levels.

This article was initially published in French by Abdel-Latif Boureima

Adapted in English by Ange J.A de Berry Quenum