Nigeria's Oil Industry Sees Revival Under NUPRC's New Leadership

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) is working to restore investor confidence in Nigeria's oil industry, and it seems like their efforts are paying off. Under the new leadership of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, who took office on December 23, 2025, the commission has implemented a strategy based on regulatory certainty, faster decisions, and transparent governance.

Eyesan, with over three decades of oil and gas experience, has set a goal to increase Nigeria's crude production from 1.735 million barrels per day in June 2026 to 2 million barrels per day by 2027 and 3 million by 2030. She believes that clear rules and enforcement can bring back investment in the industry.

The NUPRC has made significant progress in recent years, including concluding long-stalled asset sales, increasing crude production, and attracting new investors to the sector. The commission has also implemented measures to address issues such as pipeline vandalism, crude theft, and underinvestment, which had previously hindered Nigeria's oil industry.

The Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 split the Department of Petroleum Resources into two agencies: NUPRC for upstream and NMDPRA for downstream and midstream. Eyesan has emphasized the importance of digitization in the industry, stating that 'the world is transiting at great speed, and we are still manual.' She aims to make the NUPRC a 'gold-standard upstream regulator in Africa.'

The commission's efforts have been recognized by global investors and government delegates, who have praised Nigeria's commitment to sector growth and investor confidence. The passage of the PIA has given a new sense of direction for Nigeria's oil and gas sector, Eyesan said.