The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have renewed efforts to enhance regulatory efficiency and foster investment in the country’s oil and gas sector, signalling a new era of cooperation between the two agencies.
A statement signed by Eniola Akinkuotu, Head of Media and Strategic Communication at NUPRC, confirmed that the renewed collaboration was formalised during a meeting held at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, January 8, 2026.
At the meeting, both agencies agreed to work more closely, nominating representatives from each organisation to address and resolve regulatory bottlenecks across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments of the sector.
The aim is to promote investor confidence, streamline regulatory processes, and ensure the overall growth of the industry.
The statement read, “The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Regulatory Authority have taken significant steps toward enhancing regulatory efficiency and encouraging investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.”
To institutionalise the partnership, NUPRC and NMDPRA resolved to hold quarterly meetings. The regular engagements are expected to strengthen communication, resolve challenges swiftly, and align regulatory approaches across the oil and gas value chain.
Speaking at the meeting, the Chief Executive of NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, emphasised the importance of synergy between the two agencies, noting that cooperation is critical to the sector’s development.
“Whether we are talking about the upstream, midstream, or downstream, we are enablers for the industry, and without a doubt, we know that the industry is the heartbeat of the nation’s economy.
“So, we are committed to ensuring that things work properly and the industry grows astronomically. We cannot do that if we do not work together because, as we all know, sometimes there is no fine line between upstream, midstream, and downstream. And if we are not working together, then that becomes a problem. So, I believe that this will be the beginning of many more interactions,” Mrs. Eyesan said.
She described the meeting as a testament to a renewed commitment, stating that both agencies are “putting forces together to ensure that the industry grows.”
She also invited the NMDPRA Chief Executive to the pre-bid conference for the ongoing licensing round at Eko Hotels and Suites in Lagos on January 14, 2026. The licensing round, which offers 50 oil and gas blocks, is expected to attract substantial domestic and foreign investment and bolster the nation’s hydrocarbon reserves.
Responding, the NMDPRA Chief Executive, Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, highlighted the shared history of both agencies as offshoots of the former Department of Petroleum Resources.
He called for harmonious collaboration, emphasising that any differences should be resolved internally and amicably. “We must improve this relationship between brother and sister agencies,” he said.
The partnership marks a renewed commitment by NUPRC and NMDPRA to foster regulatory efficiency, boost investor confidence, and drive long-term growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, promising tangible benefits for the nation’s economy in the years ahead.
Recall that President Bola Tinubu appointed Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed in December 2025 following the resignation of the former heads of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, and NMDPRA ACE, Farouk Ahmed, who resigned their positions.
