Nigeria’s daily crude oil production rose to 1.68 million barrels per day (mbpd) in the second quarter of 2025—the highest quarterly average since 2022—enabling the country to meet its OPEC production quota and significantly boosting national economic output, according to the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS). The increase marks a notable turnaround from both the previous quarter and the same period last year, when average output stood at 1.62 mbpd and 1.41 mbpd respectively, and underscores a broader recovery in Nigeria’s oil sector after years of underperformance.
This improved production level contributed to a stronger-than-expected economic performance, with Gross Domestic Product (GDP) expanding by 4.23% year-on-year in real terms during Q2 2025—up from 3.48% recorded in the same quarter of 2024. The NBS attributed the growth not only to higher oil output but also to methodological improvements, including the rebasing of Nigeria’s GDP calculations using 2019 as the base year. This adjustment has created a more accurate and up-to-date quarterly GDP series, aligning historical data with current economic structures and improving comparability across sectors.
The oil sector emerged as a major growth driver, recording a real year-on-year expansion of 20.46%—a sharp acceleration from 10.08% in Q2 2024 and 1.87% in Q1 2025. On a quarter-on-quarter basis, the sector grew by 6.01%, reflecting sustained momentum. As a share of total real GDP, the oil sector contributed 4.05% in the second quarter of 2025, up from 3.51% in the same period last year and 3.97% in the preceding quarter.
Beyond oil, non-oil sectors also showed positive movement. The industry sector expanded by 7.45% year-on-year, nearly doubling its 3.72% growth in Q2 2024, while agriculture grew by 2.82%, slightly better than the 2.60% recorded a year earlier. The services sector, which remains the largest contributor to GDP, grew by 3.94%, up from 3.83% in the corresponding quarter of 2024.
In nominal terms, aggregate GDP reached ₦100.730 trillion in Q2 2025, a significant jump from ₦84.84 trillion in the same period of 2024—an increase of 19.23% year-on-year. This reflects rising prices, increased economic activity, and the impact of structural adjustments in measurement methodology.
The resurgence in Nigeria crude oil production 2025 comes amid ongoing efforts to stabilize domestic operations, reduce pipeline vandalism, and attract investment into marginal fields. Meeting its OPEC quota signals improved operational reliability and could strengthen Nigeria’s standing among global energy producers at a time when confidence in African hydrocarbon supply chains is being tested.
While challenges remain—including aging infrastructure, gas flaring, and security risks in the Niger Delta—the latest figures suggest that policy interventions, combined with technical improvements and enhanced regulatory oversight, are beginning to yield results.
For the broader economy, higher oil revenues offer much-needed fiscal relief, particularly as the government seeks to reduce borrowing and close widening budget gaps. Increased export earnings also bolster foreign exchange reserves, supporting naira stability and improving investor sentiment.
As Nigeria continues to balance energy transition pressures with the need to maximize hydrocarbon value, the Q2 2025 performance demonstrates that short-to-medium-term gains in production and economic growth are achievable—even within a complex operating environment.
With crude output now trending upward and non-oil sectors showing resilience, the path toward macroeconomic stabilization appears to be gaining traction—offering cautious optimism for investors, policymakers, and citizens alike.
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