Nigeria’s crude oil production increased to 1.235 million barrels per day in December 2022, according to data released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission on Sunday. This is the country’s largest output since March 2022, when it produced 1.237mbpd.

The data revealed that oil production grew from 1.185 million barrels per day in November to 1.235 million barrels per day in December, demonstrating that the Federal Government’s efforts to reduce oil theft were successful.

Nigeria’s crude oil output plummeted to 0.937 million barrels per day (mbpd) in September of last year, one of the lowest levels seen in years. The low figure was blamed on the actions of pipeline thieves and oil smugglers in the Niger Delta, a development that also caused some international oil companies to leave Nigeria.

Additional data from the NUPRC revealed that the output of crude oil, without blended or unblended condensates, in January, February, March, April, May, and June was, respectively, 1.398 mbpd, 1.257 mbpd, 1.237 mbpd, 1.219 mbpd, 1.024 mbpd, and 1.158 mbpd.

The oil production figures were 1.08 mbpd, 0.972 mbpd, 0.937 mbpd, 1.014 mbpd, 1.185 mbpd, and 1.235 mbpd for July, August, September, October, November, and December, respectively.

To effectively increase the nation’s oil output, Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari last Thursday issued an order to security agencies directing them to end crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta by May 29, 2023.