Eyesan Rolls Out Ambitious Reform Agenda for Nigeria’s Upstream Oil Sector
The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has unveiled a comprehensive reform agenda aimed at improving efficiency, deepening collaboration, and unlocking higher production across Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.
Eyesan said the new direction for the industry is built around three strategic pillars: production optimisation and revenue growth; regulatory predictability and speed; and safe, governed, and sustainable operations.
She noted that the agenda aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope vision, particularly the Federal Government’s ambition to raise crude oil production to two million barrels per day by 2027 and three million barrels per day by 2030.
Stakeholder Engagement in Lagos
The NUPRC chief executive outlined the roadmap on Wednesday during a stakeholders’ engagement in Lagos, which brought together members of the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), emerging operators, and other key industry players.
According to Eyesan, efforts to boost production and revenues will prioritise the recovery of economically viable shut-in volumes, arresting natural production decline, reducing losses, and accelerating time-to-first oil—all without introducing additional regulatory burdens or transaction costs for operators.
She disclosed that progress has already been recorded, citing the recent reactivation of a long shut-in asset as an early success under the new approach.
Regulatory Predictability and Speed
On regulatory reforms, Eyesan said the Commission will focus on running regulation as a service, ensuring transparent rule enforcement and time-bound decision-making to enhance predictability and investor confidence.
She also pledged to strengthen governance, process safety, host community outcomes, and decarbonisation efforts, noting that sustainable operations remain central to the Commission’s mandate.
“Going forward, the Commission will be measured on the following key success metrics: faster and predictable regulatory approvals; higher, more secure and sustainable production; credible licensing and disciplined acreage performance; world-class Health, Safety and Environment and process safety outcomes; and trusted measurement, transparency, governance, and data integrity,” Eyesan said.
Service Level Agreements and Digital Transformation
To improve regulatory efficiency, Eyesan announced that the NUPRC will publish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for all major regulatory approvals and reduce timelines to production through early engagement, stage-gate processes, and mutually agreed schedules with operators.
She encouraged operators with mature projects to submit proposals no later than the end of the first quarter of 2026, describing the framework as simplified and holistic, with clearly defined responsibilities for both operators and the Commission.
The NUPRC will also deploy a digital workflow system for permitting, reporting, and data submission. In collaboration with industry stakeholders, the Commission will identify capacity gaps and introduce tiered interventions in critical areas to enhance regulatory performance. Internal processes will be harmonised to eliminate conflicting regulatory actions and reduce operational friction.
Internal Transformation and Industry Engagement
Eyesan revealed that an internal transformation programme, driven through a dedicated Project Management Office, is already underway, with further details to be announced in the coming days.
She also announced the establishment of a monthly CCE–Operators Leadership Forum, involving NNPC, OPTS, IPPG, and emerging operators. The forum will focus on approval timelines, production restoration, infrastructure integrity, and gas monetisation and development, with the aim of identifying systemic bottlenecks and improving regulatory predictability.
Accountability, Host Communities, and PIA Compliance
Emphasising accountability, Eyesan stressed the importance of accurate hydrocarbon accounting, noting that every barrel produced must be properly tracked, with discrepancies and losses promptly addressed.
On host community relations, she said the Commission would soon engage community leaders to reaffirm commitments to the implementation of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), urging operators to work closely with the NUPRC ahead of the engagements.
She further disclosed that full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) within the next 12 months is a top priority, with a dedicated monitoring team reporting directly to her office. The Commission will issue quarterly progress reports to track implementation.
“Going forward, the Commission will issue quarterly progress reports. Let us therefore bring all high-impact shut-in fields for approval.
On the Commission’s part, a 90-day programme to fast-track approvals for near-ready Field Development Plans, well interventions, rig mobilisation, and other quick-win opportunities has already commenced,” Eyesan said.
