Mkpoikana Udoma
Port Harcourt — Nigeria’s crude oil production climbed to 99.2 percent of its Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries, OPEC, production quota in April 2026, as improved pipeline security and reduced vandalism boosted output across the country’s oil sector.
Latest figures released by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, showed that Nigeria’s crude oil production rose by 7.58 percent compared to March 2026 levels, bringing output close to the country’s approved OPEC quota of 1.5 million barrels per day.
According to the commission, Nigeria recorded a peak production level of 1.85 million barrels per day in April, while the lowest production figure for the month stood at 1.46 million barrels per day.
The improved performance comes amid renewed efforts by government and private pipeline surveillance operators to tackle crude oil theft, illegal refining, and pipeline vandalism in the Niger Delta.
Also reflecting the sector’s recovery, the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, NNPCL, recently announced a profit after tax of about N276 billion for March 2026, supported by increased crude oil and gas production.
Reacting to the development, Pipeline Infrastructure Nigeria Limited, PINL, attributed the production growth to stronger collaboration with host communities and improved protection of oil and gas infrastructure.
Speaking during the company’s monthly stakeholders’ meeting involving representatives from Rivers, Abia and Imo states in Port Harcourt, the General Manager, Community and Stakeholders Relations of PINL, Dr. Akpos Mezeh, described the latest production figures as evidence that pipeline security efforts were yielding measurable economic results.
“These figures are not ordinary statistics. They are direct evidence that stability, cooperation, and effective protection of pipeline infrastructure produce measurable economic benefits for our nation and our people,” Mezeh said.
He credited host communities, surveillance operatives, traditional rulers, and security agencies for sustaining peace and protecting critical infrastructure along the Trans Niger Pipeline and Eastern Gas Network corridors.
According to him, pipeline vandalism incidents have dropped significantly due to improved intelligence gathering, stakeholder engagement, and community participation in asset protection.
Mezeh further disclosed that no infraction was recorded on the Trans Niger Pipeline within the last one month, describing the feat as a reflection of growing synergy among stakeholders.
“We are having zero infraction on the pipeline in our area of operation and that shows that we are winning the fight against pipeline vandalism,” he stated.
He reaffirmed the company’s commitment to community engagement and social investment initiatives aimed at improving livelihoods in host communities and sustaining support for pipeline protection activities.
Speaking at the meeting, the Paramount Ruler of Emohua Kingdom in Rivers State, HRM Eze Sergeant Awuse, commended PINL for supporting national oil production growth and investing in host communities.
“I’m satisfied with what PINL is doing to help this country.
“Last sitting you rolled out scholarship for our youths and today you have rolled out women empowerment. We owe you thanks also for securing infrastructure feeding this nation. Your company has in very significant way made it possible for more oil to flow with less vandalisation,” the monarch said.
Similarly, the King of Eleme Kingdom, HRM Dr. Philip Obele, praised the company for restoring stability in oil-producing communities and helping Nigeria maximise revenue from crude oil production.
He noted that pipeline vandalism had drastically reduced in his kingdom due to the surveillance activities of the company.
