Nigeria slashes crude oil losses to historic 16-year low, says NUPRC

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced a remarkable achievement in the nation’s upstream oil sector, with crude oil losses due to theft and metering inaccuracies dropping to their lowest point in nearly 16 years.

According to the NUPRC, daily crude oil losses in July 2025 reached just 9,600 barrels per day (bpd), the lowest since 2009, when losses hit a record low of 8,500 bpd.

Head of Media and Strategic Communications at NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, shared these findings on Thursday in Abuja, based on data compiled from January to July 2025.

“This milestone reflects our relentless efforts to curb crude oil losses across Nigeria’s oilfields and pipeline networks,” the commission stated.

The NUPRC reported that total crude oil losses from January to July 2025 amounted to 2.04 million barrels, averaging 9,600 bpd over the seven months.

This represents a significant improvement compared to previous years. “In 2024, Nigeria lost 4.1 million barrels at an average of 11,300 bpd,” the commission noted, adding that the 2025 figures reflect a 50.2% reduction in losses for the first seven months. Compared to 2021, when losses soared to 37.6 million barrels (averaging 102,900 bpd), the 2025 data shows an impressive 94.57% decline, equivalent to a reduction of 35.56 million barrels.

The commission highlighted that 2021 marked the highest crude oil losses in nearly 23 years.

However, since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, losses have steadily declined. “In 2022, losses fell to 20.9 million barrels, averaging 57,200 bpd. By 2023, this dropped further to 4.3 million barrels, or 11,900 bpd, and in 2024, losses were reduced to 4.1 million barrels, averaging 11,300 bpd,” the NUPRC explained.

To achieve these results, the NUPRC has employed a combination of kinetic and non-kinetic strategies. On the kinetic side, it has strengthened collaboration with security agencies, oil operators, and local communities. On the non-kinetic side, the commission has introduced regulatory measures, including a comprehensive metering audit to ensure accurate production and export measurements.

Additionally, under the leadership of Gbenga Komolafe, the NUPRC approved 37 new crude oil evacuation routes to combat oil theft, further bolstering efforts to safeguard Nigeria’s oil resources.