NNRA, NUPRC Partner To Eliminate Regulatory Overlaps, Reduce Oil And Gas Operating Costs

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) have commenced efforts to harmonise regulatory frameworks governing the use of radiation in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, with the aim of eliminating overlapping regulations, reducing compliance costs and improving the ease of doing business.
The commitment was reached during a meeting between the Commission Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Director-General and Chief Executive Officer of the NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris, at the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja.
The collaboration is expected to streamline regulatory processes, minimise duplication of responsibilities and establish a more efficient compliance system for operators in the oil and gas industry.
While the NUPRC regulates the technical, commercial and operational aspects of upstream petroleum exploration and production, the NNRA is responsible for regulating the possession, use, transportation and disposal of radioactive materials, as well as promoting the safe application of radiation technologies across various sectors of the economy.
Speaking during the meeting, Eyesan stressed the need to address regulatory gaps and eliminate multiple layers of regulation that increase operational costs for investors.
She noted that reducing unnecessary regulatory burdens would enhance Nigeria’s investment climate and strengthen the competitiveness of the country’s oil and gas industry.
“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations. When there is a multiplicity of laws, operators are often subjected to multiple fees and charges, which ultimately increases the cost of doing business,” she said.
Eyesan disclosed that the commission had designated senior officials to work closely with their counterparts at the NNRA to identify critical areas requiring harmonisation.
“We have identified critical areas on both sides and we believe that through collaboration, we can close existing regulatory gaps,” she added.
In his remarks, NNRA Director-General, Dr. Idris, said the upstream petroleum industry remains one of Nigeria’s largest users of radioactive sources and radiation-emitting equipment, particularly for well logging, industrial radiography and nucleonic gauging.
He explained that effective regulation of these activities requires close cooperation between both agencies.
“Our objective is to establish a single-window approach where both agencies share relevant information instead of requiring operators to submit the same data repeatedly,” Idris said.
He further explained that oil and gas production often brings Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) to the surface, making it necessary for operators to conduct radiological impact assessments as part of their broader Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs).
According to him, the NNRA is seeking the support of the NUPRC to ensure that NORM management protocols are fully integrated into the commission’s environmental guidelines for upstream petroleum operations.
Both agencies also agreed to strengthen collaboration in capacity building, technical cooperation and knowledge sharing to enhance radiation protection standards and promote safer operations across Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas industry.