By Mary Izuaka

 

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has called on the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) to uphold industry standards, strengthen human capital development, and promote good corporate governance.

Eniola Akinkuotu, the regulator’s head of media and strategic communications, disclosed this in a statement, on Tuesday.

Mr Akinkuotu said the NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyewa Eyesan, gave the charge during a courtesy visit by an IPPG delegation to the commission’s headquarters in Abuja on Monday.

The delegation was led by IPPG Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Aradel Holdings, Adegbite Falade.

In her remarks, Mrs Eyesan described the IPPG as a significant force in the industry, particularly following the divestment of international oil companies.

She noted that the commission values its relationship with the group.

Mrs Eyesan emphasised adherence to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021, stressing the importance of human capital development and strong corporate governance.

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

“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,” she said.

She urged the IPPG to hold its members to the same high standards as their foreign counterparts.

“As a pressure group, you should hold yourselves to a standard, I think that is one of the things the International Oil Companies (IOCs) have done very well.”

Mrs 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 Tinubu.

She 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,” she added.

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In his response, the IPPG Chairman, Mr Falade, commended Mrs Eyesan for what he described as “the renewed hope of your leadership in NUPRC,” adding that the industry has experienced noticeable changes since she assumed office in December 2025.

“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,” he said.

He urged the commission to regularly consult with the IPPG.

“You can always count on and trust that the Nigerian agenda is at the heart of our mandate,” he said.