Nigeria oil production rebounds to over 1.8 million bpd

The Nigerian government announced a significant rebound in the nation's oil and gas production this week, crediting recent policy reforms and increased investment for revitalizing the sector. The updates were delivered by senior officials during the 25th Nigeria Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week conference in Abuja, which began on Tuesday, July 7, 2026.

Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Oil), Heineken Lokpobiri, disclosed that Nigeria's crude oil production, including condensates, has risen to over 1.8 million barrels per day. He stated this represents a substantial increase from approximately one million barrels per day recorded when he took office in August 2023. Lokpobiri attributed the recovery to restored investor confidence driven by reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu's administration and the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). He noted that active drilling rigs have increased from 14 in 2023 to more than 60 currently.

Lokpobiri also addressed the strategic repositioning of international oil companies (IOCs), clarifying that they are focusing investments on deep offshore operations while indigenous firms take a leading role in onshore and...