Nigeria's president Goodluck Jonathan has appealed to parliament to lower the assumed oil output estimates contained in the 2010 budget.

A letter obtained by Reuters reveals that the new president is seeking to lower the estimate from 2.5 million barrels per day to 2.2 million, working from new guidance offered by the Nigerian National Petroleum Corp.

In the letter, Mr Jonathan also called for budgetary spending to be reprioritised to ensure that more investment is made in oil and gas training in pursuance of commitments made in the armistice deal struck with rebel groups in the Niger Delta region.

Production in the country has climbed significantly since the deal was struck in November, with rebels downing their weapons in return for training and a guaranteed living allowance.

Mr Jonathan clarified that oil revenue estimates should remain tethered to an assumed oil price of $60 a barrel for the 2010 fiscal period.

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