The Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) has declared that Nigeria has upheld its status as the premier oil producer on the continent.

According to OPEC’s recent monthly report for November issued on Wednesday, Nigeria’s oil production rose to 1. 48 million barrels per day (bpd) from 1. 33 million bpd in the preceding month.

Nigeria’s output figure eclipsed that of Algeria, which produced 908,000 bpd, and Congo, which recorded an output of 268,000 bpd for November.

Data from OPEC, based on direct communications, indicated that Nigeria’s crude production increased to 1. 417 million bpd in November, up from 1. 4 million bpd in October.

“Per secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production averaged 26. 66 mb/d in November 2024, which is 104 tb/d higher month-over-month.

“Crude oil output saw an increase primarily in Libya, Iran, and Nigeria, whereas production in Iraq, Venezuela, and Kuwait declined.

Simultaneously, total non-OPEC DoC crude oil production averaged 14. 01 mb/d in November 2024, which represents an increase of 219 tb/d month-over-month. Crude oil output rose mainly in Kazakhstan and Malaysia,” OPEC reported.

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) also noted a marked increase in Nigeria’s crude oil production, achieving 1. 69 million bpd in November, up from 1. 53 million bpd in October.

OPEC’s report highlighted that crude oil output surged mainly in Libya, Iran, and Nigeria, while production in Iraq, Venezuela, and Kuwait saw a decline.