(Ecofin Agency) - Nigeria’s oil minister, Emmanuel Kachikwu (photo), said Nigeria is not opposed to joining the cut measure of OPEC. The official however said the nation awaits to see production come back to acceptable levels.

“We are targeting that by the end of the extension period (9 months) we are trying to prep and finalise repairs of our infrastructure and at that time we would be able to join,” Kachikwu said. “We have to wait and see that the militancy effects are out and the infrastructure is rebuilt and we’re back to production,” he added.

The extension of cuts by OPEC comes in context where it wishes to support oil prices more and curb glut in the market. Nigeria being currently exempt from the cut measure needs to ramp up its production to get out recession.

Indeed Nigeria, which derives its revenues from oil mainly, is currently in its first recession in 25 years, as a result of a slump in its production spurred by attacks on key infrastructures by militants. The country aims at producing 2.2 million bpd this year.