ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, has outlined an ambitious reform agenda designed to increase crude oil production, rebuild investor confidence, and position Nigeria as a competitive player in the global energy market.
In her first interview published in the latest edition of The Upstream Gaze, a commission publication Eyesan said the Commission would adopt technology-driven regulation, fast-track approvals, and enhance transparency in licensing and compliance processes.
She detailed a broad, technology-focused plan aimed at modernising licensing systems, strengthening regulatory compliance, and restoring confidence in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.
According to her, the reforms are essential to achieving the Federal Government’s medium-term production target of three million barrels per day, in line with the agenda of President 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 noted that the commission is prioritising the development of a fully digital regulatory ecosystem to eliminate bottlenecks, improve transparency, and align Nigeria with global best practices.
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“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 major aspect of the reform involves introducing an end-to-end digital licensing platform to transform how investors engage 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 further disclosed that the commission is enhancing national data systems to enable real-time monitoring and strengthen 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.
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She added that analytics-driven compliance tools would 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 emphasised that the overall impact of these reforms would be a more predictable and competitive investment environment.
“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 stated that the commission is focused not only on increasing output but also on improving the overall health and sustainability 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.