The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) have begun efforts to harmonise their regulatory processes to strengthen safety standards and reduce operating costs in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The move followed a meeting between NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and NNRA Director-General, Yau Idris, in Abuja, where both agencies discussed ways to improve collaboration and eliminate overlapping regulatory requirements.
According to a statement issued by the NUPRC, the partnership is expected to simplify compliance procedures for operators, close regulatory gaps, and create a more efficient oversight framework for activities involving radioactive materials used in oil and gas operations.
Eyesan said reducing operational costs was critical to attracting and safeguarding investments in the petroleum industry, noting that multiple regulations and associated charges often increase the financial burden on operators.
She added that both agencies had identified key areas for cooperation and would work together to improve regulatory efficiency while maintaining safety standards.
Idris described the collaboration as important because the upstream oil and gas sector is one of the largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-emitting equipment in Nigeria. He noted that such technologies are commonly used in well logging, industrial radiography, and other exploration and production activities.
He explained that the agencies were pursuing a single-window compliance approach that would allow them to share information, reducing the need for companies to submit the same data to different regulators.
The NNRA boss also said the partnership would help address the management of Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), which are often brought to the surface during oil and gas extraction. He noted that radiological impact assessments could be incorporated into broader environmental evaluations, while NORM management protocols may be integrated into upstream environmental guidelines.
Both agencies also 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 seeks to attract more investment into the petroleum sector, increase oil production, and improve operational efficiency following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
Recent figures from the National Bureau of Statistics showed that foreign capital inflows into the oil and gas sector increased in the first quarter of 2026, although the industry continued to account for only a small share of total investments entering the country.
