KEY POINTS
- Nigeria’s upstream regulator launched a 90-day reform drive.
- Faster approvals target stalled oil and gas projects.
- New leadership promises clearer rules and accountability.
Nigeria’s upstream oil regulator has rolled out a 90-day reform drive aimed at lifting crude output and restoring investor confidence, as the new commission chief signals a sharper break from years of slow approvals and stalled projects.
Fast-tracking stalled oil projects
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has begun a short-term program designed to accelerate approvals for near-ready field development plans, well interventions and rig mobilization. The initiative was outlined by commission chief executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan during a meeting with industry stakeholders in Lagos on Wednesday.
Eyesan told oil producers and independent operators that the fast-track process is already underway. The move is intended to reduce delays that have weighed on investment and limited production growth in Africa’s largest oil producer. Nigeria’s output has struggled for years, despite sizable reserves and repeated reform pledges.
At the meeting, Eyesan outlined three pillars guiding her approach. These include boosting production and government revenue, improving regulatory speed and predictability, and ensuring safe and sustainable operations across the sector. She said the commission’s performance would be judged by faster approvals and higher, more secure output.
The strategy aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s production targets of 2 million barrels a day by 2027 and 3 million by 2030. Those goals remain ambitious for a country whose oil production has often fallen short of capacity due to underinvestment, theft and operational setbacks.
Push for predictable regulation
Eyesan said the commission will publish service level agreements covering major approvals. A digital workflow for permitting, reporting and data submissions is also planned. Industry players have long complained about opaque processes and uncertain timelines, which have raised costs and discouraged capital inflows.
The regulator will also convene monthly leadership forums with operators, including state-owned NNPC, independent producers and industry groups. These sessions will focus on approval timelines, restoring shut-in production, infrastructure integrity and gas development. Eyesan said the goal is to identify and resolve systemic bottlenecks early.
According to BusinessDay, operators seeking fast-track consideration for mature assets were urged to submit requests by the end of the first quarter of 2026. Eyesan described the deadline as part of a broader effort to inject urgency into regulatory decision-making.
She pointed to early progress, saying a long shut-in asset had recently been brought back on stream. While no details were provided, the comment suggested movement on reviving dormant fields without raising operator costs.
Eyesan also pledged full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act within 12 months. A dedicated team reporting directly to her office will monitor implementation of the 2021 law, which restructured Nigeria’s oil and gas governance framework.
On hydrocarbon accounting, Eyesan stressed the need to track every barrel produced and address losses promptly. Measurement gaps have long complicated revenue collection in the sector.
The commission plans to work with operators to address capacity gaps affecting regulatory efficiency and to align internal processes. Eyesan said quarterly performance reports will be published, adding a layer of accountability uncommon among Nigerian regulators. Whether the 90-day sprint delivers lasting gains will shape perceptions of her tenure.
