The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has announced a 60-day programme to fully digitise the commission’s internal communications and operational processes as part of efforts to enhance transparency, speed, and regulatory efficiency.

Eyesan disclosed this when the Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative, Musa Sarkin Adar, paid a working visit to the commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on February 23, 2026.

According to a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head, Media and Strategic Communication at NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, the move is aimed at eliminating paper-based processes and strengthening accountability in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.

She said, “We have set for ourselves a 60-day programme to digitise our interactions and communications within the Commission. I can assure you that once we get to day 60, there will be no paper trail within the Commission.

All our transmissions will be electronic, which also means speed is assured. It means we will be able to trace where we have hiccups.”

Eyesan explained that the commission had already recorded significant gains from previous automation initiatives, particularly in royalty collection and monitoring.

She said, “I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that for royalty payments, the default rate was enormous prior to 2025 when the Commission went live on the system. Now, compliance has improved.”

The NUPRC boss noted that full digitisation would further strengthen regulatory oversight, improve efficiency, and enhance transparency in the oil and gas industry. She also stressed the importance of deepening collaboration with NEITI, especially as the country prepares for new licensing opportunities and investment drives.

In his remarks, Adar urged the commission to strengthen its partnership with NEITI through data sharing and closer institutional coordination. He said this would enhance transparency, improve investor confidence, and ensure strict compliance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Adar said, “There is a need for the Commission to carry NEITI along in its operations. This will not only enhance transparency but also deepen investor confidence. We also expect the regulator to be firm with operators that run afoul of the law.”

He further encouraged the commission to actively participate in the 2026 global conference of the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative to gain deeper insights into evolving transparency standards and best practices. “We are here to seek understanding, and we must collaborate,” he added.

Nigeria has intensified reforms in the oil and gas sector following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act in 2021, which restructured regulatory institutions and emphasised transparency, accountability, and improved revenue generation.

The NUPRC, which regulates upstream activities, has introduced several digital and monitoring tools to curb revenue leakages, improve compliance, and attract investment.

A stronger collaboration between NUPRC and NEITI is critical to boosting investor confidence, ensuring accurate reporting, and strengthening governance in Africa’s largest oil producer as the country seeks to increase production and maximise revenue from its natural resources.