Boost Human Capital, Governance to Attract Funding, NUPRC Tasks Indigenous Oil Firms

The chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyewa Eyesan, has tasked the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) with boosting human capital development and governance standards to attract funding in the post-IOC era.

Eyesan gave the charge during a courtesy visit by the IPPG delegation, led by its chairman, Adegbite Falade, at the NUPRC headquarters on Monday.

“One area I think we need to spotlight is human capital development,” Eyesan said. “As the industry grows, there is a tendency toward default, and if we allow that to fester, it will hurt all of us.”

She warned, “Because we are in a global market, the financiers are rating Nigeria; they are not rating companies, and if we do not bring our human capacity to par, then we will be creating a big problem for ourselves.”

Eyesan urged the IPPG, a key player after international oil companies’ divestments, to hold its members to high standards, like those of its foreign counterparts. “As a pressure group, you should hold yourselves to a standard. I think that is one of the things the IOCs have done very well,” she stated.

The NUPRC chief also emphasised adherence to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, and announced the commission’s shift to paperless operations on April 18, 2026, as part of its digital transformation.

Eyesan urged the IPPG to hold its members to the highest standards, just as their foreign counterparts do.

“As a pressure group, you should hold yourselves to a standard. I think that is one of the things the IOCs have done very well,” she stated.

Eyesan assured the IPPG delegation that the Commission remains committed to its mandate as a business enabler and will continue to be responsive to industry needs in line with the aspirations of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The CCE further announced that the Commission has gone paperless as part of its commitment to digitise.

“When I took over, we realised we needed to transform, and we set up a transformation team. We are happy to announce that on Friday, April 18, 2026, we went paperless, and everybody collaborated to make it happen,” Eyesan said.

Responding, the IPPG Chairman, Adegbite Falade, commended the CCE for what he described as “the renewed hope of your leadership in NUPRC,” noting that the industry has experienced noticeable changes since she assumed office in December 2025.

Falade said, “You have not been here for long, but the signs are very clear as to your dynamic leadership. We will not stop emphasising that because we do not take it for granted.”

Falade, who is also the CEO of Aradel Holdings, urged the Commission to regularly consult with the IPPG, adding, “You can always count on and trust that the Nigerian agenda is at the heart of our mandate.”