Nigeria Regains Position As Africa’s Number 1 Crude Producer

Nigeria has sustained its position as the largest oil producer in Africa for two straight month, as it pumped 1.235 million barrels per day (bpd) in December, according to the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) data.

The latest monthly oil market report released by OPEC on Tuesday shows that Nigeria’s oil output increased by 50,000 bpd, based on direct communication.

Last month, Timipre Sylva, minister of state petroleum resources, said that improved security surveillance along major crude oil pipelines is helping to shore up oil production from about 900,000 barrels per day to between 1.4 and 1.6 million barrels.

The minister said oil majors in the country drastically cut down production due to massive vandalism and theft of crude oil in the Niger Delta region by criminal elements.

Mele Kyari, group chief executive officer, Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, at the 13th Global UAE Energy Forum, said that by the end of December Nigeria was pumping 1.519 million bpd.