There’s some good news for Nigeria’s oil industry the amount of crude oil being stolen has dropped significantly to just 5,000 barrels per day (BPD), allowing the country’s oil production to increase to 1.75 million barrels per day as of January 2025.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) revealed this progress at the Renewed Hope Global Town Hall Conference in Abuja. The commission’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, explained that this turnaround was achieved through a mix of military (kinetic) and diplomatic (non-kinetic) efforts.
How Oil Theft Almost Crippled Nigeria’s Production
Back in 2022, crude oil theft was so rampant that Nigeria’s production plunged to just 1.1 million BPD a far cry from the country’s OPEC quota. This led to huge revenue losses, economic struggles, and a weaker naira.
“Oil theft was a major challenge, dragging our production to 1.1 million BPD in 2022,” Komolafe explained.
However, with strong security measures, better surveillance, and government reforms, oil theft has now been drastically reduced, giving Nigeria’s crude production the boost it badly needed.
The Reforms That Made It Happen
The NUPRC noted that the government’s 10-year Regulatory and Corporate Strategic Plan (2023–2033) has played a huge role in stabilising the sector. In May 2023, the commission also launched a Regulatory Action Plan for 2024, which introduced stricter laws, better monitoring, and stronger enforcement to curb theft.
These efforts have restored confidence in Nigeria’s oil sector, leading to increased investment and better economic outlooks.
What This Means for Nigerians
With oil production back on track, here’s what Nigerians can expect:
- More revenue for the government, which could mean better funding for infrastructure, education, and healthcare.
- Potential naira stability, as oil earnings directly impact Nigeria’s foreign exchange reserves.
- Improved investor confidence, which could attract more foreign investments into the sector.
While there’s still work to be done, this progress shows that Nigeria is gradually regaining control of its oil resources. The focus now is on sustaining this momentum and ensuring that crude oil theft is completely eliminated.
