Full List Of Oil Producing States In Nigeria (2024)

This article is about the full list of all oil producing States in Nigeria currently in this year 2024. Nigeria’s crude oil production ranges between 2.5 – 2.7 million barrels per day, making it the largest oil producing country in the whole of Africa and the sixth (6th) largest producer of Crude oil in the world. This impressive figure is generated mostly in the Niger-Delta region which makes up only 7.5 per cent of the total land area of the country.

There are about nine (9) oil producing States in Nigeria which fully maximize the production of the Petroleum deposits found abundantly in them. Out of these nine crude oil producing States in the country, Akwa Ibom, Delta, Rivers and Bayelsa account for 90.1 per cent of the oil produced, making them the top producers of oil in the country.

Apart from the three States mentioned, the other oil producing States include: Ondo, Lagos, Edo, Imo and Abia. Oil has also been discovered in other states and regions but due to low or lack of production in commercial quantities, they will not be discussed in this article.

As a matter of fact, Cross River State ceded its oil wells to Akwa Ibom after the Republic of Cameroon took over the Bakassi peninsula, and that is why they are not featured on this list of the top oil producers in the country.

FULL LIST OF OIL PRODUCING STATES IN NIGERIA 2024 

The following is a comprehensive list of all oil producing States in Nigeria this 2024:

AKWA IBOM STATE

Akwa Ibom State is the largest oil producing State in Nigeria, producing about 504,000 barrels of oil per day. This makes Akwa Ibom account for 31.4% of the total crude oil produced in the country. Apart from being a top oil producer in Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State is also blessed with other mineral resources such as coal, limestone, salt, glass, clay, giver nitrate and of course, natural gas. Uyo, the state capital of Akwa Ibom is regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in Nigeria. The State is a coastal state located in south south geopolitical zone and dominated by three (3) major ethnic groups namely; the Oron, Anang and Ibibio. It has a population of over five (5) million people.

DELTA STATE

Delta State is located in the Niger-Delta region of Nigeria and it is the second largest oil producing State in the country with a production capacity of 346,000 barrels per day (31.4 per cent). It is one of the richest states in Nigeria as well. While Asaba is the capital of the State, the economic hub of the State is Warri. It is in Warri that the refinery and the petrochemical plant in the State is located. Delta State is home to over four (4) million people and has Urhobos, Isokos and the Itsekiris as its major ethnic groups. Apart from oil and natural gas, the State is blessed with clay, fine sand, rubber and timber as some of its natural resources.

RIVERS STATE

Rivers State is the third largest producer of oil and gas in Nigeria and was once the largest before Akwa Ibom State took over as the nation’s leading crude oil producer. It however, remains the State that refines the highest amount of crude oil in the country and home to two (2) oil refineries in Nigeria. Rivers State has large deposits of oil and it accounts for 21.43 percent of oil produced in the country. The oil barrels produced in a day is about 344,000. The Capital city of Rivers State is Port Harcourt and it is one of the most populated cities in the country and as well as the home of oil refineries. The major ethnic groups here are Ikwerre, Okrika, Upobo, Kalabari and the Ubani. The State is also a major fishing State due to its numerous rivers.

BAYELSA STATE

The list of the oil producing States in Nigeria will not be complete without the mention of Bayelsa State. This is because it was in Oloibiri, Bayelsa that oil was first discovered in 1959 in commercial quantity to be precise. The State has one of the largest crude oil and natural gas deposits in the country with a production capacity of about 290,000 barrels per day making it account for 18.07 per cent of the total oil produced in Nigeria. The capital of the State is Yenagoa.

Bayelsa State has eight (8) Local Government Areas and has a population of about 1.9 million (2006 census) making it the least populated State in Nigeria. The major ethnic groups include the Ogbia, Nembe, Izon and Epie-Atissa. The state is also riverine and as such, it is blessed with enormous aquatic resources.

ONDO STATE

This is the 5th oil producing State in the country with a daily production rate of 60,000 barrels. Ondo State is not located in the traditional Niger-Delta Region but is included because of its oil producing status. It is located in south-western Nigeria and has a population of about 2.4 million with Akure as its capital. The State is predominantly a Yoruba speaking State with the Ijaws as the minorities.

LAGOS STATE

Lagos State is among the richest oil producing States in Nigeria, as a matter of fact, it is the richest State in Nigeria and it produces about 40,000 barrels per day. Its status as the richest State in the country isn’t as a result of oil exploration but because of its robust commercial and industrial activities which ensures huge internal generated revenues every month. This State is regarded as the centre of excellence according to its slogan and rightly so. It is by far the most economically important State in Nigeria.

EDO STATE

Edo State is located in the south-south geopolitical zone of the country and has Benin City as its capital. It is the 7th largest oil producing State in Nigeria and has a population of over 3.3 million. The State produces 33,000 barrels of oil per day.

IMO STATE

Imo State is located in South-East geopolitical zone of the country and it has the Owerri as its capital city. It is the richest State in the South-East and it produces 17,000 barrels of oil per day. Apart from this, it also has deposits of lead, zinc, fine sand, clay and limestone as part of its natural resources. Imo is an Igbo speaking State.

ABIA STATE

Abia State is located in south-east and it is also an Igbo speaking State. The city of Umuahia is the capital of the State. Aba, a very popular manufacturing/commercial hub in Nigeria, is the economic nerve centre and most important city in Abia State. The State produces about 11,000 barrels of oil per day. It is important to know that the above oil producing States are part of the states earning from the yearly 13 percent of the revenue gotten from crude oil.