KEY POINTS
- NUPRC and NNPC have agreed to deepen collaboration to improve efficiency, transparency and competitiveness in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
- The regulator is pushing for harmonised fees, improved metering standards and better utilisation of host community funds to cut operating costs.
- NNPC reaffirmed its commitment to gas expansion, major pipeline projects and closer regulatory partnership to boost investment and energy security.
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, (NNPC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration to enhance operational efficiency across Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The commitment followed a high-level meeting between the management teams of both institutions at NUPRC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Friday, February 6, 2026.
Speaking at the meeting, NUPRC’s Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said both organisations, as government institutions, are aligned towards the same objectives for the sector.
She described the renewed cooperation as timely and critical, stressing the need to seize the opportunity to reposition the industry for greater efficiency and competitiveness.
Drive to Reduce Operating Costs
Eyesan disclosed that the Commission is prioritising the reduction of operating costs by harmonising regulatory fees and rents. According to her, NUPRC is working closely with the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) to address the issue of multiple charges faced by operators.
The goal, she explained, is to streamline fees to the barest minimum in order to make Nigeria’s upstream sector more attractive to investors.
The CCE also revealed progress on enhancing hydrocarbon measurement and accounting. She noted that the first phase, an audit of existing systems, has been completed, while the second phase will focus on full implementation of metering standards.
This phase, she said, will include the establishment of a central data centre and standardised metering across all locations.
Eyesan described the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) framework as largely successful but emphasised the need for proper utilisation of funds to promote peace and improve the operating environment in host communities.
She also encouraged NNPC to actively participate in the 2025 licensing round and deepen exploration activities.
