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Nigeria’s crude oil output has climbed to 1.84 million barrels per day, marking a notable rebound in production, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

The development was disclosed during a meeting on Friday between the commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun.

In a statement issued by the Commission’s head of media and corporate communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, Edun commended the NUPRC for driving the sector to the new production level. “It is heartening that you can tell us that you are doing 1.84 million barrels per day. That is fantastic news. That is totally in line with the mandate of President Bola Tinubu,” the minister said.

The production increase comes at a time of heightened volatility in the global oil market, triggered by tensions in the Middle East, which have pushed crude prices higher. As of Friday, Brent crude traded at $109 per barrel, while West Texas Intermediate (WTI) stood at $111 per barrel, after earlier surging above $120.

Encouraging the commission to sustain the momentum, Edun said, “Clearly, you have started on a very good note. Please keep it up.”

He described the geopolitical tensions as unfortunate but noted that the push for higher oil output had already been set in motion by President Bola Tinubu before the crisis.

The minister urged the regulator to intensify efforts toward achieving a daily production target of two million barrels. “I wish you continued success. What matters is not just reaching certain heights but sustaining it. We don’t want any stopping along the way.

The trajectory should be maintained and of course the magic figure is 2mbpd,” he stated.

Earlier, Eyesan confirmed the current production level, describing it as a significant milestone while expressing confidence in further gains. “We are doing 1.84 million barrels per day. That is a remarkable feat but I am sure we will do more,” she said.

She explained that a temporary decline in output recorded in February was due to operational challenges at key facilities and scheduled maintenance activities. “But all that has been fixed and we are seeing production ramping up,” she added.

On the 2025 licensing round, Eyesan disclosed that the process has progressed to the technical and financial evaluation stage. She expressed optimism about the sector’s outlook, citing reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), including the “drill or drop” provision, which allows the commission to revoke idle oil blocks.

According to her, some of the assets currently on offer could begin production within a year, noting that indigenous firms have continued to demonstrate growing operational capacity.

She also confirmed that the commission has complied fully with Executive Order 9 of 2026, which mandates the suspension of the 30 per cent Frontier Exploration Fund deduction from profit oil and gas, as well as other related charges, with proceeds now to be remitted directly to the Federation Account.