The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have announced a renewed partnership aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency and attracting fresh investments into Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The development was confirmed in a statement signed by the Head of Media and Strategic Communication at NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, following a joint meeting held at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.
According to the statement, the two agencies agreed to intensify cooperation by appointing dedicated representatives to jointly tackle regulatory bottlenecks affecting the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the industry. The move is expected to reduce overlaps, resolve operational challenges more quickly and promote a more investor-friendly business environment.
To ensure the partnership is sustained, both regulators resolved to institute quarterly coordination meetings designed to improve communication, align regulatory positions and harmonise policies across the petroleum value chain.
Speaking at the meeting, NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the collaboration was crucial to the growth of the sector, stressing that the oil and gas industry remains central to Nigeria’s economic survival.
She noted that the boundaries between upstream, midstream and downstream operations are often blurred, making close cooperation between the two regulators indispensable.
“We are enablers for the industry, and the industry is the heartbeat of the nation’s economy. We are committed to ensuring that things work properly and that the sector grows significantly. That can only happen if we work together,” Eyesan said.
She described the engagement as the start of a more coordinated regulatory relationship and disclosed that the NMDPRA leadership had been invited to participate in the pre-bid conference for the ongoing 2026 oil and gas licensing round in Lagos on January 14. The licensing exercise, which is offering 50 oil and gas blocks, is expected to attract strong interest from both local and international investors.
In his response, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, underscored the need for unity between the two institutions, pointing out that both agencies emerged from the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources.
He called for a harmonious working relationship, describing NUPRC and NMDPRA as “brother and sister agencies” whose shared responsibility is to ensure a smooth regulatory environment for industry players.
The partnership signals a renewed commitment by both regulators to improve transparency, boost investor confidence and accelerate growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
President Bola Tinubu appointed Eyesan and Mohammed as heads of the NUPRC and NMDPRA respectively in December 2025, following the resignations of their predecessors, Gbenga Komolafe and Farouk Ahmed.
