NUPRC, NNPC CEOs Meet, Set to Harmonise Fees, Rents

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja  and Peter Uzoho in Lagos

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) yesterday pledged to deepen collaboration to boost operational efficiency.

This was the outcome of a meeting between the management of the NUPRC and the NNPC at the commission’s corporate headquarters in Abuja, a statement by the NUPRC spokesman, Eniola Akinkuotu disclosed.NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, said the Commission and the NNPC as creations of the Nigerian government have similar goals, stressing that the upstream regulator was focused on reducing the cost of operations by harmonising fees and rents to make Nigeria’s oil and gas sector more competitive.

To this end, the NUPRC chief executive revealed that the commission was working closely with the Oil Producers Trade Section (OPTS) to address the multiplicity of fees and rents in order to improve Nigeria’s competitiveness.“We are working with the industry on harmonising the fees and rents that we charge,” she said, adding, “The whole idea is to harmonise and reduce it to the barest minimum so that we can reduce the cost of operations,” she said.Eyesan further stated that the commission is working on enhancing measurement and hydrocarbon accounting.“We have done the first phase which is to audit what we already have. The second phase, which will commence shortly, will be the real implementation of the metering standards and this entire programme will entail us having a data center and having all the meters in all our locations to standard,” she stated.

The NUPRC chief said the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) had so far been a success but maintained that there was a need to fully utilise these funds for its intended purpose as this would enhance community peace and improve the operating environment.Eyesan encouraged NNPC – as the country’s national oil company – to participate in the ongoing 2025 licensing round and deepen exploration.

In his remarks, the NNPC Chief Executive, Bayo Ojulari, reiterated the need for an improved relationship between the national oil company and the regulator. Ojulari hailed Eyesan’s appointment as CCE, adding, “Your antecedents, your track records, your integrity, your forthrightness and clarity for those who have had the privilege of interacting with you, excites the industry.”

He said the NUPRC had continued to demonstrate exceptional leadership, in terms of regulation and has been “promoting transparency and shaping an enabling environment crucial for investment and operational excellence which is good for the industry.”

The NNPC helmsman said the national oil firm had recently launched the national gas master plan, which would boost the country’s gas production, noting that critical projects like the OB3 and the AKK gas pipeline have continued to progress.

He, however, maintained that there was a need to reduce the cost of operation in Nigeria to attract fresh investments and boost Nigeria’s energy security. This, he said, would not be possible without the NUPRC’s regulatory role.