The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has outlined a new strategic vision aimed at lifting Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas production while improving regulatory efficiency and operational sustainability.
Mrs. Eyesan unveiled the agenda on Wednesday, January 14, 2026, at a stakeholder meeting in Lagos attended by operators and industry groups, including the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS), the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG), emerging operators, and other key sector players.
According to the NUPRC chief, the strategy is built on three core pillars: production optimisation and revenue expansion; regulatory predictability and speed; and safe, governed, and sustainable operations.
She said the plan aligns with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, including the administration’s target of ramping up crude oil production to 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million barrels per day by 2030.
On production growth, Mrs. Eyesan said the Commission would focus on recovering economically viable shut-in volumes, arresting natural decline, reducing losses, and accelerating time-to-first oil—without increasing regulatory burden or transaction costs. She disclosed that this drive has already begun, citing the recent reactivation of a long shut-in asset.
She explained that regulatory predictability and speed would be achieved by running regulation “like a service,” enforcing rules transparently, and making time-bound decisions. As part of this approach, the Commission plans to publish Service Level Agreements (SLAs) for all major regulatory approvals.
Under the new framework, timelines to first production will be shortened through proactive engagement on approvals, stage-gate processes, and mutually agreed timelines between operators and the regulator. Mrs. Eyesan urged operators with matured projects to submit requests by the end of the first quarter of 2026, noting that this would create a clearer and more holistic framework with defined obligations for both parties.
The NUPRC also plans to roll out a digital workflow covering permitting, reporting, and data submissions, while working with industry players to identify capacity gaps and deploy targeted interventions in critical areas affecting regulatory efficiency. Internally, the Commission is implementing a transformation programme through a Project Management Office to harmonise processes and eliminate conflicting regulatory actions.
To deepen engagement with operators, Mrs. Eyesan announced the establishment of a monthly CCE–Operators Leadership Forum involving all operators, including the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), OPTS, IPPG, and emerging players. The forum will focus on approval timelines, production restoration, infrastructure integrity, and gas monetisation.
She said the Commission would also tighten hydrocarbon accounting and measurement by tracking every barrel produced and promptly addressing discrepancies or losses.
On host community relations, the NUPRC chief said the Commission would soon engage host community leaders to reaffirm commitments to Host Community Development Trusts under the Petroleum Industry Act.
Mrs. Eyesan further disclosed that one of her immediate priorities is achieving full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act within 12 months, overseen by a dedicated team in her office. The Commission, she added, will issue quarterly progress reports and has already launched a 90-day programme to fast-track approvals for near-ready Field Development Plans, well interventions, rig mobilisation, and other quick-win opportunities.
She said NUPRC’s performance going forward would be measured by faster and more predictable approvals, higher and more sustainable production, disciplined acreage performance, world-class health, safety and environmental outcomes, and improved transparency, governance, and data integrity.
