The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has articulated her vision to transform Nigeria's upstream oil sector by prioritizing production efficiency, revenue growth, and regulatory enhancement.
In a statement issued on Wednesday following a stakeholders’ meeting held in Lagos, Eyesan detailed her plans for overhauling the industry's operations.
She asserts that her strategic vision is grounded in three fundamental principles: optimizing production and expanding revenues, ensuring regulatory predictability and rapid response, and implementing safe and sustainable operational practices.
Additionally, she emphasized that these initiatives align with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope program and support the administration's target of achieving two million barrels of oil per day by 2027, with a goal of reaching three million barrels daily by 2030.
Last December, President Tinubu made significant leadership changes within the oil and gas sector, replacing the heads of both the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the NUPRC due to ongoing reforms.
These changes were prompted by accusations of corruption and economic sabotage against the previous NMDPRA head, Farouk Ahmed, following claims from Aliko Dangote, the President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Group.
Mrs. Eyesan took over from Gbenga Komolafe, who was initially appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 and had received Senate confirmation.
During the stakeholders meeting, she articulated her strategies for increasing production and revenue, which include restoring value to previously shut-in wells, curtailing the decline in production, minimizing losses, and expediting time-to-first oil, all while avoiding the imposition of additional regulatory burdens or increasing transaction costs.
She referenced the recent revival of a long inactive asset as a demonstration of the effectiveness of this strategy.
The meeting brought together representatives from the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), emerging industry players, and other pivotal stakeholders in the oil and gas field.
Eyesan mentioned that regulatory predictability and quick action would be facilitated by treating regulation as a service, enforcing transparent rules, and making timely decisions.
Moreover, she vowed to bolster governance, ensure process safety, enhance community outcomes, and advance decarbonization efforts through secure and environmentally sustainable operations.
"Moving forward, the Commission will focus on key success indicators, including expedited and reliable regulatory approvals, increased and sustainable production levels, meaningful licensing practices, and upholding high standards for health, safety, and environmental (HSE) outcomes," she stated.
She also indicated that the regulatory body intends to improve efficiency and predictability by releasing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for major approvals.
Eyesan outlined plans to shorten production timelines through proactive engagement regarding necessary approvals and the establishment of cooperative timelines between industry operators and the commission.
She urged stakeholders to submit their projects for review, particularly emphasizing that requests for matured opportunities should be submitted by the end of the first quarter in 2026, aiming to create a cohesive framework that defines responsibilities for both operators and the Commission.
Furthermore, she announced the introduction of a digital workflow to streamline permitting, reporting, and data submissions, signifying that the NUPRC would collaborate with industry participants to identify capacity deficiencies and deter friction through enhanced regulatory efficacy.
Eyesan also revealed that the Commission's internal restructuring initiative, managed through a project office, is currently in progress.
"I will share further specifics about this soon," she commented.
Additionally, she introduced the
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