The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has unveiled an ambitious reform agenda aimed at boosting crude oil production, restoring investor confidence, and positioning Nigeria as a competitive global energy destination.
In her maiden interview published in the latest edition of The Upstream Gaze, a media publication by the commission and obtained by our correspondent on Sunday, Eyesan said the Commission would deploy technology-driven regulation, accelerate approvals, and deepen transparency across licensing and compliance processes.
She outlined a sweeping technology-driven agenda aimed at modernising licensing, strengthening compliance, and restoring investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.
She described the reforms as critical to achieving the Federal Government’s production target of three million barrels per day in the medium term, in line with the agenda of Bola Tinubu.
“This edition of The Upstream Gaze, the first in 2026, chronicles our commitment to ongoing reforms expected to optimise production, accelerate regulatory timelines, strengthen hydrocarbon measurement and revenue assurance, deepen digital transformation, and entrench transparency across licensing and compliance processes,” she stated.
Eyesan said the commission is prioritising a fully digital regulatory ecosystem designed to eliminate bottlenecks, improve transparency, and align Nigeria with global best practices.
“Modern regulation has to be tech-enabled, data-driven, and transparent. At the NUPRC, we’re building a fully digital ecosystem that streamlines licensing, strengthens compliance, and improves data integrity in line with global best practices,” she said.
She explained that a key component of the reform is the rollout of an end-to-end digital licensing platform that will transform how investors interact with the regulator.
“We are rolling out an end-to-end digital licensing platform with online submissions, automated workflows, clear timelines, real-time tracking, and digital permit issuance. This removes bottlenecks and gives investors visibility and certainty.
“This removes bottlenecks and gives investors visibility and certainty. We are also upgrading our national data systems with real-time monitoring capabilities, standardised metering protocols, and automated reporting. Reliable, real-time data is critical for revenue assurance, asset valuation, and investor confidence,” she asserted.
Eyesan added that the commission is upgrading national data systems to support real-time monitoring and improve revenue assurance.
“We’ll be upgrading our national data systems with real-time monitoring capabilities, standardised metering protocols, automated reporting, and enhanced centralised data repositories. Reliable, real-time data is critical for revenue assurance, asset valuation, and investor confidence,” she said.
According to her, analytics-driven compliance tools will also be deployed to improve oversight and ensure consistency in regulatory decisions.
“We will deploy analytics-driven compliance tools that flag anomalies, enabling enhanced oversight, faster decision-making, and more consistent regulatory outcomes. We are also strengthening transparency in licensing rounds through secure digital data rooms and auditable, system-driven bid processes,” she added.
She stressed that the cumulative effect of these reforms would be a more predictable and competitive investment climate.
“All of this reduces discretion, shortens project timelines, and boosts governance and accountability. When processes are digital, and data is credible, regulatory risk drops and the Nigerian upstream space becomes a more predictable and competitive investment destination,” Eyesan said.
On production targets, the NUPRC boss said the commission is focused on both increasing output and improving the overall health of the sector.
“Our performance benchmarks go beyond just hitting production numbers. We’re focused on both volume growth and the structural indicators that measure sector health and sustainability,” she said.
