Royal Dutch Shell has resumed production of 150,000 barrels per day of crude oil which was closed due to community unrest in the country’s volatile oil-rich south, a company spokesman said.

"Optimal production level is back. The plant is up and running," Precious Okolobo said.

Nigeria is Africa’s largest oil exporter and the world’s sixth oil producer.

The Anglo-Dutch oil giant suspended operations at the Bomu manifold after villagers in the restive Ogoniland region stormed the facility which feeds the Bonny export terminal on May 28.

The seizure, the second in two weeks, disrupted crude oil supply to the terminal. Shell reported on May 15 that protesters had occupied the same facility.

Shell , Nigeria ’s largest oil operator, accounts for around half of the country’s daily production of 2.6 million barrels, a quarter of which is lost to unrest in the volatile Niger Delta.

Home to Nigeria’s multibillion-dollar oil and gas industry, the Niger Delta has seen an upsurge in violence in the past year with more than 180 foreigners kidnapped. Most have however been released.