- NUPRC and NMDPRA renewed institutional cooperation to streamline regulation across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments.
- The partnership establishes joint mechanisms to resolve bottlenecks and align regulatory processes across the value chain.
Nigeria’s upstream and downstream petroleum regulators have renewed cooperation to boost investor confidence and streamline oversight across the oil and gas sector, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) said. The move marks a coordinated regulatory push between NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Meanwhile, NUPRC said both agencies formalised the partnership during a meeting at its Abuja headquarters on Thursday, January 8, 2026. Officials agreed to nominate representatives to resolve bottlenecks across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments and to hold quarterly meetings to improve coordination and align regulatory approaches.
Furthermore, NUPRC Chief Executive Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan stated that collaboration between regulators remains critical to sector growth, noting that the oil and gas industry constitutes a significant pillar of the national economy. She invited NMDPRA Chief Executive Saidu Mohammed to the pre-bid conference for the 2026 licensing round in Lagos on January 14, which will offer 50 oil and gas blocks.
In addition, Mohammed called for closer cooperation between the regulators, citing their shared institutional history as successors to the former Department of Petroleum Resources.
The renewed collaboration aims to enhance regulatory efficiency, support investment and provide more clarity for operators as Nigeria seeks to revive growth in its oil and gas industry. President Bola Tinubu appointed Eyesan and Mohammed to lead the two agencies in December 2025 following the resignations of their predecessors.