The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has begun efforts to harmonise regulatory processes with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA). The move is designed to strengthen radiological safety in oil and gas operations while reducing the cost of doing business in the upstream petroleum sector.
The initiative followed a recent meeting between the Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NNRA, Yau Idris, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued on Sunday by the Head of Corporate Communications and Media at the NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, the collaboration will help address overlapping regulatory requirements, close existing oversight gaps, and create a more efficient compliance framework for operators.
“The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is partnering with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority in order to enforce radiological safety in oil and gas operations and reduce the overall cost of operations,” the statement said.
The NUPRC regulates the technical, commercial, and operational aspects of oil and gas exploration and production. Meanwhile, the NNRA oversees the possession, use, transportation, and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment across Nigeria.
Speaking during the meeting, Eyesan highlighted the importance of collaboration among regulatory agencies. She noted that multiple regulations often increase operational costs for investors and businesses.
“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations, and when you have a multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that you will have higher costs because each law normally will come with its own fees and charges,” she said.
She added that senior officials from the NUPRC had already been identified to work closely with the NNRA on implementing the partnership.
“We have identified critical areas on both sides and we believe that, as we collaborate, we can close existing gaps,” Eyesan stated.
On his part, Idris said cooperation with the NUPRC was essential because the upstream petroleum industry remains one of the largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria.
He explained that radioactive technologies are commonly used in well logging, industrial radiography, and nucleonic gauging activities that support oil and gas exploration and production.
According to Idris, the partnership will promote information sharing and simplify compliance requirements for operators.
“The goal is a single-window approach, where both agencies share information rather than requiring operators to submit the same data twice,” he said.
He also stressed the importance of managing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), which are often brought to the surface during oil and gas extraction activities. The NNRA is seeking support from the NUPRC to ensure radiological impact assessments are included in Environmental Impact Assessments and that NORM management protocols become part of environmental guidelines for the upstream sector.
Both agencies agreed to deepen cooperation in training, capacity building, and knowledge sharing on radiation protection and safe operational practices.
The partnership comes as the Federal Government intensifies efforts to boost investment, increase production, and improve efficiency in the petroleum industry following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
Recent data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that foreign capital inflows into Nigeria’s oil and gas sector rose by 283.3 per cent in the first quarter of 2026. The sector attracted $0.46 million during the period, compared to $0.12 million in the corresponding quarter of 2025.
Despite the sharp increase, the industry continued to attract only a small portion of the total $10.37 billion capital imported into the Nigerian economy during the first quarter of 2026, highlighting the need for reforms that improve investor confidence and operational efficiency.
