By Obiabin Onukwugha
Executive Secretary of Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (NEITI), Hon. Musa Sarkin Adar, has called for collaborative effort with the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), to foster transparency in the downstream sector.
Adar made the when he visited the Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, at the NUPRC corporate headquarters in Abuja on Wednesday.
He emphasised the need for the NUPRC to carry the agency along in its operations, saying this would not only enhance transparency but also deepen investor confidence. Adar also urged the Commission to be firm on oil companies that run afoul of the Petroleum Industry Act, saying the aim of the visit is to seek understanding from the NUPRC.
Adar sought that the NUPRC actively participates in the 2026 EITI flagship conference which will provide the Commission with better insights into the standards that guide EITI implementation.
The NEITI boss also sought support from the Commission in the area of data sharing which will enhance the operations of the agency. “We are here to seek understanding and we must collaborate,” he stated.
The NUPRC Commission Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, in her response, promised to enhance transparency and ensure that the NUPRC’s internal communication are fully digital.
“We have set for ourselves a 60-day programme to digitise our interactions and communications within the Commission. I can assure you that once we get to day 60, there will be no paper trail within the Commission.
“All our transmissions will be electronic which also means speed is assured. It means we will be able to trace where we have hiccups,” she said.
The NUPRC boss said digitising processes often lead to better results like the enforcement of payments of royalties.
“I can tell you without a shadow of doubt that for royalty payments, the default rate was enormous prior to 2025 when the Commission went live on the system. Now, compliance has improved,” she stated
The NUPRC boss added that a deepened relationship with NEITI will foster transparency especially amid the 2025 Licensing Round.
