Nigeria has recorded the lowest crude oil losses in 16 years, according to the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The agency attributed the new low in losses to tighter activity monitoring and effective recent reforms.
In July 2025, the country’s losses were approximately 9,600 barrels per day, the country’s last low was in 2009 when losses were approximately 8,500 barrels per day.
Nigeria’s total losses from January to July 2025 were 2.04 million barrels, an average 9,600 barrels daily. The numbers are a big drop from 2024, when the country lost approximately 4.1 million barrels with approximately 11,300 daily. Today’s numbers portent a 50.2% reduction within one year.
Furthermore, the drop appears sharper than when losses peaked in 2021 (37.6 million barrels, or just under 103,000 barrels per day), with today’s figures reflecting a 94.6% drop.
NUPRC credited improvements to the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021, and reported that both kinetic and non-kinetic measures have been undertaken. Security agencies, oil operators, and local communities, have all collaborated to put a stop to oil theft and sabotage. Concurrently, oil metering audits were implemented to provide stricter monitoring, and 37 new crude evacuation routes were approved.
Players in the field are optimistic about the significant drop in losses because it indicates that meaningful progress can be made through policy reforms and backed enforcement. However, they stated that significant gains will necessitate vigilance, infrastructure investment, and more collaboration with host communities.
The stakes are high for Nigeria. Crude oil is a major source of government revenue; reducing losses directly increases government earnings and investor confidence. The risks of vandalism, theft, and illegal tapping remain, but officials are optimistic that the trend will continue.
Overall, the statistics paint a bleak picture of Nigeria’s petroleum sector. If the current numbers continue through the remainder of the year, it could signal a pivotal point in the country’s effort to stem crude oil theft.
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