Nigeria’s crude oil production dropped to an average of 1.39 million barrels per day (bpd) in September 2025, marking one of the lowest levels in recent months.
This is according to data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday.
The official figures showed that total oil and condensate output averaged 1.581 million bpd for the month, comprising 1.39 million bpd of crude oil and 191,373 bpd of condensate.
The Commission attributed the decline to a three-day industrial action by the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), which forced the shutdown of several production and export facilities across the country.
NUPRC said: “two strategic facilities also underwent scheduled turnaround maintenance during the period, further reducing overall production levels.”
Despite the disruptions, total crude oil and condensate output for the month stood at 47.43 million barrels, representing a modest 1.61 per cent year-on-year increase compared to September 2024, when production averaged 1.55 million bpd.
However, on a month-on-month basis, output slipped by 3.09 per cent compared to the 1.63 million bpd recorded in August 2025.
The Commission noted that average production in September represented 93 per cent of Nigeria’s 1.5 million bpd quota under the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC).
During the review month, peak combined crude and condensate production reached 1.81 million bpd, while the lowest point fell to 1.35 million bpd.
A breakdown of production by the top eight streams showed Forcados Blend as the leading contributor, accounting for 15.86 per cent of total output. Bonny Light followed with 13.31 per cent, while Qua Iboe ranked third with 9.88 per cent.
Other significant contributors included Escravos Light (8.96 per cent), Bonga (6.83 per cent), Agbami Condensate (4.94 per cent), Erha (4.55 per cent), and Amenam Blend (4.2 per cent).
While the marginal year-on-year increase signals gradual improvement, the month-on-month dip underscores the fragility of Nigeria’s oil production system, which remains vulnerable to industrial disputes, operational downtime, and infrastructure challenges.
The NUPRC said it would continue to work with industry stakeholders to stabilise output and address recurring bottlenecks affecting Nigeria’s oil recovery efforts.
