![An aerial view of an offshore oil platform in Nigeria, as OPEC data confirms the country’s position as Africa’s largest crude oil producer with output at 1.45 million barrels per day. [Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/5a27a8234e0a41be989fa575d3efdf98.jpg)
Nigeria has retained its position as Africa’s largest crude oil producer after raising output to 1.45 million barrels per day in March, according to the latest monthly report from the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries.
- Nigeria has retained its status as Africa’s top crude oil producer, according to OPEC’s latest monthly report.
- The country recorded output of 1.45 million barrels per day, maintaining its lead over Libya.
- However, production remains below its 1.5 million bpd OPEC quota.
- Fresh domestic figures, including condensates, signal potential upside for Africa’s largest economy.
The figure marks an increase from 1.42 million bpd recorded in December 2025, based on data obtained through direct communication with Nigerian authorities.
However, OPEC noted that March output declined 2.11 percent month on month, underscoring the volatility that continues to shape global oil markets.
Despite the marginal dip, Nigeria maintained its lead on the continent, ahead of Libya, which posted production of 1.37 million bpd during the same period. The figures reaffirm Nigeria’s strategic importance within Africa’s energy landscape and the wider OPEC alliance.
OPEC gathers production data through two primary channels, direct submissions from member states and secondary sources such as independent energy intelligence platforms.
![An Austrian soldier guards the entrance to the OPEC headquarters on October 4, 2022 on the eve of the 45th Meeting of the Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee and the 33rd OPEC and non-OPEC Ministerial Meeting held on October 05, in Vienna, Austria. [Photo by JOE KLAMAR/AFP via Getty Images]](https://ocdn.eu/pulscms/MDA_/51bbcd6faafa333e1b37d500df8254e4.jpg)
Data from secondary sources placed Nigeria’s January output slightly higher at 1.47 million bpd, down 1.34 percent from the 1.49 million bpd recorded in December.
The oil cartel also reported that total crude production from the Declaration of Cooperation group averaged 42.45 million bpd in January 2026, down 439,000 bpd from the previous month.
Nigeria nonetheless fell short of its 1.5 million bpd production quota by around 50,000 bpd. Still, recent domestic figures suggest further upside potential. On 10 February, Heineken Lokpobiri, Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, said Nigeria’s oil output, including condensates, stood at 1.75 million bpd.
For Africa’s largest economy, sustaining higher output remains critical, not only for domestic fiscal stability but also for reinforcing its leadership in global energy markets.
