The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority have renewed efforts to enhance regulatory efficiency and foster investments in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, signalling a new era of cooperation between the two agencies.

A statement signed by the Head of Media and Strategic Communication at NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, confirmed that the collaboration was formalised during a meeting at the Commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on Thursday.

At the meeting, both agencies agreed to work more closely, nominating representatives to address and resolve regulatory bottlenecks across the upstream, midstream, and downstream segments.

The partnership aims to promote investor confidence, streamline regulatory processes, and drive growth in the sector.

The statement partly 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 collaboration, NUPRC and NMDPRA resolved to hold quarterly meetings to strengthen communication, resolve challenges swiftly, and align regulatory approaches across the oil and gas value chain.

Speaking at the meeting, NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, emphasised the importance of synergy between the two agencies.

She said, “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.”

She described the meeting as a testament to 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 in Lagos on January 14, 2026, which offers 50 oil and gas blocks and is expected to attract substantial domestic and foreign investment.

Responding, NMDPRA Chief Executive, Saidu Mohammed, highlighted the shared history of the two agencies as offshoots of the former Department of Petroleum Resources.

He urged harmonious collaboration, noting, “We must improve this relationship between brother and sister agencies.”

The partnership underscores the agencies’ renewed commitment to fostering regulatory efficiency, boosting investor confidence, and driving long-term growth in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, promising tangible benefits for the nation’s economy in the years ahead.

President Bola Tinubu appointed Eyesan and Mohammed in December 2025 following the resignations of the former heads of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, and NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed.