Nigeria’s oil output plummets on pipeline dysfunctions

Nigeria’s oil production shrunk to 1.23 million barrels per day in March with authorities blaming pipeline problems and maintenance issues.

OPEC said Nigeria produced 1.32 million barrels in February and 1.42 million in January.

Oil theft and pipeline vandalism have dealt severe blows on Nigeria’s oil production, limiting the country’s output and making it fall below the volume approved for Nigeria by OPEC.

The Nigerian government said the drop in production was mainly due to issues encountered on the Trans Niger Pipeline, coupled with maintenance activities carried out by some oil companies operating across the country.

Once maintenance is complete, Nigeria will be able to produce 1.7 million barrels daily, Nigerian news outlet The Punch said.

The Trans Niger Pipeline is a major oil pipeline in Nigeria that transports crude oil extracted from oil fields in Rivers and Bayelsa States to the Bonny Crude Oil Export Terminal.