The Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), says Nigeria’s average daily crude oil production has increased significantly to 1.539 million Barrels Per Day (bpd) in January.

The country for the first time, met the OPEC production quota of 1.5 million bpd since it was set for the 2024 period at OPEC’s ministerial meeting in November 2023.

The Tide source reports that the production figure which was released in OPEC monthly oil market report showed that the increase was against 1.485 million bpd recorded in Dec. 2024,  which represented 54,000 bpd change.

In December 2024, the quota was extended to 2026 as Nigeria produced below the quota for over a year.

According to OPEC, the crude oil production data was obtained from two sources – direct communication with Nigerian officials which is from member countries and secondary communication, such as energy intelligence platforms.

The report showed that Nigeria retained its position as the largest oil producer in Africa, surpassing Algeria, which produced 907,000 bpd in January.

The report showed that Congo produced 251,000 bpd in the period under review, making the country the third-largest oil producer in Africa.

According to secondary sources, total OPEC-12 crude oil production, total DoC crude oil production averaged 40.62 mb/d in January 2025, which is 118 tb/d lower, m-o-m.

“Crude oil output increased mainly in Libya, Congo, and Gabon, while production in Nigeria, UAE, and Venezuela decreased significantly.

“Also, total non-OPEC DoC crude oil production averaged 13.94 mb/d in January 2025, three tb/d higher, m-o-m.

“Crude oil output increased mainly in Kazakhstan, while production in Russia decreased,” the report stated.

The OPEC report further stated that Nigeria’s oil production would likely  increase with Dangote refinery nearing full capacity.

“The oil sector remains central to the economy, and the Dangote Refinery reaching full production capacity should help stabilise the petroleum product supply and possibly lower petrol prices,” OPEC stated.

The ECOWAS Court, yesterday, dismissed a suit filed by a Nigerian woman, Lovina Adonor, seeking to compel the Federal Government to pay her reparation for the destruction of her shrine.

The Tide source reports that Adonor, a self-acclaimed priestess, had filed the suit marked: ECW/CCJ/APP/61/22, seeking the enforcement of her fundamental human rights against Nigeria.

Adonor had in her submission claimed that her shrine was attacked and vandalised by some private individuals, forcing her to flee the community due to threats to her life.

She also alleged that the Nigerian government failed to provide adequate protection, investigate her complaints, or address the destruction of her religious materials and property.

According to the applicant, the incident was tantamount to the violation of her right to propagate her religion, the right to security, and the right to own property without discrimination.

She had argued that such violated rights were encapsulated under ECOWAS basic texts and international human rights instruments, including the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR).

Delivering judgment, however, Justice Sengu Koroma, the Judge Rapporteur, declined to grant the applicant’s prayer for any reparations or order for perpetual injunction against the respondent.

The court held that Adonor failed to establish a direct connection between the alleged violation of her rights and the Nigerian government or its agents.

The court further held that Nigeria had adequately investigated the complaints, while the individuals responsible for the alleged acts were private citizens, who had been detained and later released after due process.

“Additionally, the Applicant’s claims under Article 3, 6, 12, 14, and 21 of the ACHPR are dismissed for lack of facts sufficient and evidence to warrant relief sought thereunder.

“Furthermore, the National laws, such as Section 43 of the Nigerian Constitution, are outside of the Court competence,” the court said.

The court explained that after reviewing both parties’ submissions, it affirmed its jurisdiction to entertain the suit because the case pertained to alleged human rights violations within an ECOWAS member state.

It added that the application was admissible, because the Applicant had sufficiently demonstrated her victim status, and also met the necessary procedural requirements.

The three-member panel of the court which has Justices Ricardo Gonçalves (presiding); Sengu Koroma (rapporteur); and Edward Asante (member), ordered that both parties would bear their own costs.

President of Rivers Professional in Diaspora, Mazi Lucky Chukwuladi, has urged the Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike, to jettison sentiment and work with Sir Siminialayi Fubara to better Rivers State.

Speaking on a live radio programme in Port Harcourt, Mazi Chukwuladi decried the hostility the FCT Minister has displayed that has painted the state in bad light.

He noted that the current posture of the former governor and his opposition to Fubara’s administration is capable of scarring away investors in the state.

Accusing Wike’s administration of discouraging investors and not attracting direct foreign investment during his tenure, Chukwuladi said time has come for a new narrative.

The new narrative, he insisted, should be to reduce crime, engender peace and promote the local economy.

He advocated for a new agric industrialization in the state by creating zonal farming sites to harness the huge agro potentials across the state.

On how to harness the huge youth potentials of the state, the Rivers Professionals in Diaspora said his can be done through Information technology.

With ICT, Mazi Chukwuladi, advised on the need for the state governor to evolve a blueprint on youth development capable of diverting the economy into non-oil areas.

Kevin Nengia