Nigeria recorded 3.33 million barrels of crude oil theft in 2025, with about 66% of the reported quantity occurring in the fourth quarter, based on the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The fee disclosed this in its 2025 annual report launched on Thursday, which additionally detailed the nation’s crude oil manufacturing, home provide, exports and subject growth actions in the course of the yr.
The figures present that reported theft was closely concentrated in direction of the top of 2025, even because the fee outlined plans to develop the nation’s oil and fuel manufacturing capability by way of new subject developments.
Fourth quarter accounts for many oil theft
The quarterly breakdown confirmed vital variations in reported losses:
- Nigeria recorded 896,471 barrels of crude oil theft in the primary quarter.
- The second quarter recorded a destructive 200,400 barrels, which the fee described as an extra quantity in its reconciliation.
- Reported theft stood at 440,434 barrels in the third quarter.
- The fourth quarter recorded 2.19 million barrels, the very best quarterly quantity of the yr.
The annual report additionally confirmed that Nigeria produced 541.08 million barrels of crude oil and blended condensate in 2025, primarily based on the quarterly figures. Production was comparatively secure, rising from 132.70 million barrels in the primary quarter to 137.69 million barrels in the second quarter, earlier than easing to 137.45 million barrels in the third quarter and 133.23 million barrels in the fourth quarter.
Unblended condensate manufacturing added one other 48.52 million barrels in the course of the yr.
NUPRC approves plans to develop manufacturing
Beyond the manufacturing and theft figures, the fee reported progress in processing subject growth plans aimed toward rising Nigeria’s upstream capability.
- NUPRC processed 75 subject growth plan purposes in 2025, comprising 58 acquired in the course of the yr and 17 carried ahead from 2024. Of these, 48 had been accepted, 10 rejected and 17 remained underneath processing on the finish of the yr.
- The accepted tasks are anticipated to develop about 1.75 billion barrels of oil reserves, 104.48 million barrels of condensate reserves and eight.19 trillion cubic ft of fuel reserves.
- They are additionally projected so as to add roughly 743,830 barrels of oil per day, 23,707 barrels of condensate per day and three.09 billion normal cubic ft of fuel per day to manufacturing capability.
According to the fee, the accepted tasks are anticipated to attain first oil between 2026 and 2030. Seven of the 48 accepted plans are targeted completely on non-associated fuel growth.
Oil theft and Nigeria’s manufacturing outlook
The newest figures come amid ongoing issues about crude oil losses and Nigeria’s potential to satisfy its manufacturing targets.
For 2026, the Federal Government’s finances relies on crude oil manufacturing of 1.84 million barrels per day and an oil worth benchmark of $64.85 per barrel.
However, Nigeria’s crude oil manufacturing averaged 1.505 million barrels per day since July 2026, based on OPEC information.
