The new Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has outlined a three-pillar reform agenda aimed at boosting oil production, improving regulatory predictability and strengthening governance and sustainability across Nigeria’s upstream sector.
Unveiling the comprehensive reform agenda for Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, anchored on efficiency, regulatory certainty and sustainable operations, Mrs. Eyesan stated that the transformation strategy is built on three core pillars: production optimisation and revenue expansion; regulatory predictability and speed; and safe, governed and sustainable operations.
She noted that the agenda aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope programme and the administration’s target of raising crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day (mbpd) by 2027 and 3 million mbpd by 2030.
The NUPRC chief said at the stakeholder engagement in Lagos, attended by members of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), emerging industry players and other key stakeholders in the oil and gas sector that production growth and revenue expansion will be driven through the recovery of economically viable shut-in volumes, arresting production decline, reducing losses and accelerating time-to-first oil—without increasing regulatory burdens or transaction costs.
According to her, the process has already begun, citing the recent reactivation of a long shut-in asset.
She explained that regulatory predictability and speed will be achieved by “running regulation like a service,” enforcing rules transparently and making timely, well-defined decisions. As part of this approach, the Commission plans to strengthen governance, process safety, host community outcomes and decarbonisation initiatives through safe and sustainable operational practices.
“Going forward, the Commission will be measured by key success metrics, including faster and more predictable regulatory approvals; higher, more secure and sustainable production; credible licensing and disciplined acreage performance; world-class health, safety and environment outcomes; and trusted measurement, transparency, governance and data integrity,” she said.
Eyesan announced that NUPRC will enhance regulatory efficiency by publishing Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for all major approvals.
She added that timelines to production would be shortened through proactive engagement on required approvals, the introduction of stage-gate processes and mutual agreement on project timelines between operators and the Commission.
“Stakeholders are encouraged to submit their projects for consideration. For mature opportunities, submissions should be made no later than the end of the first quarter of 2026. This will create a simplified and holistic framework that establishes clear obligations for both operators and the Commission,” she added.
GIK/APA