For the first time since the outbreak of the COVID-19, oil price, which last week closed at $58 per barrel, rose to $60 per barrel mark on Monday.
The rise in oil prices comes amid optimism for a vaccine-led economic recovery and a commitment by the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies to restrain the supply of crude oil.
Brent, against which Nigeria’s oil is priced, increased by $0.76 to $60.10 per barrel as of 12.26 pm Nigerian time on Monday, its highest level since January 23, 2020, while the United States West Texas Intermediate rose by $0.68 to $57.53 per barrel.
OPEC and its Russia-led allies, a group called OPEC+, announced last week that there was “high compliance” among member states with agreements to limit supply to prop up prices.
Brent has risen by more than 17 per cent since December 31, 2020, when it closed at $51.22 per barrel.
