The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has commenced moves to harmonise regulatory processes with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority as part of efforts to strengthen radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the cost of doing business in the upstream petroleum sector.
The initiative emerged from a recent meeting between the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NNRA, Yau Idris, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by the Head of Corporate Communications and Media at the NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, on Sunday, the collaboration is expected to address overlapping regulatory requirements, close existing gaps in oversight, and create a more efficient compliance framework for operators in the industry.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is partnering the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority in order to enforce radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the overall cost of operations.”
While the NUPRC regulates the technical, commercial and operational aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, the NNRA is responsible for regulating the possession, use, transportation and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment across the country.
Speaking during the meeting, Eyesan stressed the need for greater collaboration among regulators to eliminate duplication and improve the investment climate in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
She noted that excessive regulatory requirements often translate into additional costs for operators, ultimately affecting the competitiveness of the industry.
“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations, and when you have multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that you will have higher costs because each law normally will come with its own fee and charges,” the NUPRC boss said.
Eyesan nominated senior officials from the commission to work closely with the NNRA on the task ahead. “We have identified critical areas on both sides, and we believe that as we collaborate, we can close existing gaps,” she said.
Responding, Idris said the cooperation of the NUPRC was crucial because the upstream petroleum industry remains one of the largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria.
The latest partnership comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to boost investment in the petroleum sector, increase production, and enhance operational efficiency following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
On Sunday, The PUNCH reported that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector recorded a 283.3 per cent increase in foreign capital inflows in the first quarter of 2026, but the industry continued to attract only a negligible share of total investments entering the country, official data have shown.
Figures obtained from the latest Capital Importation Report released by the National Bureau of Statistics and analysed by our correspondent on Friday showed that the oil and gas sector attracted just $0.46m in foreign capital during the review period, compared to $0.12m recorded in the corresponding period of 2025.
Although the year-on-year growth represents a significant percentage increase, the actual value of investments flowing into the industry remained extremely low when compared to the overall capital imported into the Nigerian economy.
The NBS report indicated that total capital importation into Nigeria rose to $10.37bn in the first quarter of 2026 from $5.64bn recorded in the same period of 2025, representing an increase of 83.83 per cent.
SOURCE: PUNCH NEWS PAPER
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