Nigeria’s upstream oil sector is set for a major shake-up as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) unveils a 90-day transformation sprint aimed at reviving oil production and cutting through bureaucratic delays. Commission CEO Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan announced the initiative on Wednesday, emphasizing immediate action on stalled projects and faster approvals for field development plans, well interventions, and rig mobilizations. The move is designed to inject momentum into Africa’s largest oil producer, where regulatory bottlenecks have long slowed growth.
Speaking at a Lagos gathering of major and independent oil producers, Eyesan outlined her three-pronged vision: optimizing production and revenue, creating predictable and speedy regulatory processes, and ensuring safe, sustainable operations. Her plan directly aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ambitious national targets of reaching 2 million barrels of oil per day by 2027 and 3 million by 2030—goals that require both operational efficiency and regulatory clarity.
A central feature of the reform is speed and transparency. Eyesan pledged to introduce Service Level Agreements for all major approvals and a digital workflow for permitting, reporting, and data submissions. Monthly leadership forums with all operators, including the state-owned NNPC and independent producers, will tackle systemic bottlenecks, production restoration, infrastructure integrity, and gas development, ensuring regulators can identify and fix delays before they hinder output.
The NUPRC chief highlighted early wins, including reactivating a long-shut oil asset, signaling progress in reviving dormant fields without increasing costs for operators. She also committed to full compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act within 12 months, a move monitored by a dedicated team under her office. Eyesan stressed accurate hydrocarbon accounting and stronger host community engagement, underlining that transparent operations and social responsibility are key to sustainable growth in Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.
Eyesan promised quarterly progress reports to track the commission’s performance, introducing a level of accountability rarely seen in the Nigerian oil sector. With a clear timeline—operators seeking fast-track approvals must submit requests by the end of Q1 2026—the success of this 90-day sprint could define her tenure, potentially marking a turning point for Nigeria’s upstream sector after years of stalled growth and regulatory challenges.
source: Business day