NUPRC, NNRA Move To Harmonise Regulations, Cut Costs For Oil, Gas Operators
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) have commenced efforts to harmonise their regulatory frameworks in a bid to strengthen radiological safety standards and reduce operational costs in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
The initiative was discussed during a strategic meeting in Abuja between the Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Director-General of the NNRA, Yau Idris.
According to a statement issued by the NUPRC’s Head of Corporate Communications and Media, Eniola Akinkuotu, the partnership is aimed at eliminating regulatory overlaps, closing oversight gaps, and streamlining compliance processes for industry operators.
Under the proposed arrangement, the NNRA will collaborate with the NUPRC to integrate radiological impact assessments into broader Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs), while Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material (NORM) management procedures will be incorporated into environmental guidelines governing upstream petroleum activities.
The two agencies also agreed to deepen cooperation in training, capacity building, and knowledge-sharing programmes focused on radiation protection and operational safety.
Speaking during the meeting, Eyesan stressed the need for stronger collaboration among government agencies to enhance regulatory efficiency and improve Nigeria’s attractiveness to investors.
She noted that overlapping regulations often impose additional financial burdens on operators.
“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations. When there is a multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that operators will face higher costs because each law often comes with its own fees and charges,” she said.
Eyesan disclosed that both organisations had designated senior officials to identify areas where collaboration could improve regulatory outcomes and strengthen oversight.
“We have identified critical areas on both sides, and we believe that through collaboration, we can close existing gaps,” she added.
In his remarks, Idris highlighted the strategic importance of the oil and gas sector to the NNRA, describing it as one of the largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-based technologies in the country.
He explained that such technologies are widely used in activities including well logging, industrial radiography, and nucleonic gauging, which are essential to oil and gas exploration and production.
According to Idris, the partnership will facilitate information sharing between both agencies and simplify compliance requirements for industry operators.
“The goal is to establish a single-window approach where both agencies share information, rather than requiring operators to submit the same data multiple times,” he said.
He further noted that oil and gas operations often bring Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials to the surface, underscoring the need for stronger cooperation to ensure effective monitoring and management.
The NUPRC is responsible for regulating technical, operational, and commercial activities in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, while the NNRA oversees the use, transportation, storage, and disposal of radioactive materials and radiation-emitting equipment across the country.
