Nigeria’s crude oil production reached approximately 1.7 million barrels per day in May, marking a 15-month high and pushing output above the country’s assigned OPEC quota.
The surge follows a sustained improvement in pipeline security across key producing regions, allowing operators to restore flows that had been constrained by theft and vandalism in previous months.
The increase in Nigerian supply adds to the broader inventory build-up within the cartel, complicating OPEC’s efforts to balance global markets.
With Nigeria now exceeding its target, the group faces renewed pressure to manage aggregate output levels, particularly as other members push for higher allowances.
The development underscores the shifting dynamics within the alliance, where security-driven supply rebounds can quickly outpace administrative quotas.
This production uptick coincides with growing friction within OPEC regarding quota allocations.