The sweeping reform agenda is aimed at restoring efficiency, predictability, and sustainable growth in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector – Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan.
- Promises Improved Efficiency, Collaboration
- Commences 90-day Approval Fast Track for quick-win opportunities
- Insists on Implementation of Decarbonisation Initiatives and Host Communities Development Trusts
Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum Sector is about to undergo a transformation as the newly appointed Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, on Wednesday 14 January, unveiled her vision for the country’s upstream sector.
According to Mrs Eyesan, this vision rests on three pillars:
- Production optimization and revenue expansion;
- Regulatory predictability and speed; and
- Safe, governed and sustainable operations.
Speaking at a stakeholder meeting in Lagos, during the NUPRC’s Pre-Bid Licensing Round, the Commission Chief Executive stated that her vision pillars align with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda and his plan to hit a production target of 2mmbopd by 2027 and 3mmbopd by 2030.
In a statement released to newsmen, the NUPRC boss plans on increasing production and revenue expansion through the recovery of shut-in volumes with economic value, arresting decline, reducing losses, and accelerating time-to-first oil—without increasing burdens or transaction cost.
This, she said, had already begun by recently “turning on the light” in a long shut-in asset.
“We are focused on increasing production and revenue expansion by unlocking existing value, without increasing burdens or transaction costs,” she said.
At the core of the reform agenda is a shift in regulatory philosophy—running regulation like a service. According to the NUPRC chief, this will involve transparent enforcement of rules, faster decision-making, and clearly defined timelines.
“Going forward, the Commission will be measured on key success metrics—faster, predictable regulatory approvals; higher, more secure and sustainable production; credible licensing and disciplined acreage performance; world-class HSE and process safety outcomes; and trusted measurement, transparency, governance and data integrity,” Mrs. Eyesan stated.
To institutionalize predictability, the Commission will publish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for all major regulatory approvals. Timelines to production, she added, will be shortened through early engagement, stage-gate approval processes, and mutually agreed timelines between operators and the Commission.
Operators with mature opportunities were encouraged to submit their projects by the end of Q1 2026, under what she described as a simplified and holistic framework that creates clear obligations for both the regulator and operators.
As part of its modernization drive, the NUPRC will roll out a digital workflow system for permitting, reporting, and data submission. The Commission also plans to work closely with industry players to identify capacity gaps and deploy tiered interventions in critical areas affecting regulatory efficiency.
Internally, Mrs. Eyesan disclosed that a Commission-wide transformation programme is already underway through a dedicated Project Management Office, with further details to be released in the coming days.
To deepen collaboration, the NUPRC will convene a monthly CCE–Operators Leadership Forum, bringing together all operators, including NNPC Limited, alongside OPTS, IPPG, and emerging players.
The forum will focus on approval timelines, production restoration, infrastructure integrity, and gas monetisation, enabling the Commission to identify systemic bottlenecks and deliver more predictable regulatory outcomes.
Mrs. Eyesan underscored the importance of robust hydrocarbon accounting, stressing the need to track every barrel produced and promptly address discrepancies or losses.
On host communities, she announced plans for direct engagement with community leaders to reaffirm commitments to Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), urging operators to liaise closely with the Commission ahead of the engagements.
A major priority under her leadership, she said, is achieving 100 percent compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) within 12 months, to be monitored by a dedicated team reporting directly to her office.
“The Commission will issue quarterly progress reports. Let us bring all high-impact shut-in fields forward for approval,” she said.
To support near-term gains, Mrs. Eyesan revealed that a 90-day fast-track programme has commenced to accelerate approvals for near-ready Field Development Plans (FDPs), well interventions, rig mobilisation, and other quick-win opportunities.
