NUPRC warns indigenous firms to invest in skills or risk weakening the sector’s global competitiveness….
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector may be approaching a defining moment but not for the usual reasons. This time, the threat isn’t about reserves or declining assets. It’s about people.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyewa Eyesan, has raised concerns over a growing shortage of skilled professionals, warning that the industry’s long-term future could be at risk if urgent steps are not taken.
Her message to indigenous operators was direct: invest in human capital now or face consequences that could ripple across the entire sector.
Speaking during a meeting with the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, Eyesan highlighted the shifting dynamics in Nigeria’s upstream space. With international oil companies gradually stepping back, local firms are now taking on a more dominant role.
But that transition comes with added pressure.
According to her, the industry risks stumbling if local operators fail to match the technical expertise and operational standards historically maintained by multinational companies.
She warned that weak capacity is not just a company-level issue, it’s a national one.
In a globally connected energy market, investors assess Nigeria as a whole. Any shortfall in skills or standards could affect confidence, funding, and ultimately, the country’s reputation.
Eyesan also urged operators to go beyond basic regulatory compliance and embrace stronger corporate governance, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act.
She challenged the IPPG to act as more than just an industry association calling on it to enforce discipline among its members and uphold high standards across the board.
The benchmark, she suggested, should be the level of consistency and professionalism long associated with international oil firms.
While pressing operators to improve, the Commission is also undergoing changes internally. Eyesan revealed that the NUPRC has transitioned to a fully paperless system, part of a broader push to modernize operations and improve transparency.
The move, completed in April 2026, reflects an effort to position the regulator as both an enforcer and an enabler of growth within the sector.
She also reaffirmed the Commission’s commitment to supporting industry players, aligning its efforts with the broader economic agenda of Bola Tinubu.
Chairman of the IPPG, Adegbite Falade, acknowledged the concerns and praised the Commission’s leadership, noting visible progress within a short period.
He pledged continued collaboration and emphasized the group’s commitment to national development, signaling a willingness among indigenous players to rise to the challenge.
Nigeria’s oil and gas industry is undergoing a significant transformation. The exit of multinational operators has opened the door for local companies to take center stage, a shift widely seen as a win for local content development.
However, it has also exposed a critical weakness.
For decades, international firms provided not just capital, but also technical expertise, training, and global best practices. Their departure has left a gap that indigenous companies must now fill often without the same depth of skilled manpower.
The implications are far-reaching. A shortage of engineers, geoscientists, and project managers could slow production, reduce efficiency, and limit Nigeria’s ability to compete on the global stage.
Eyesan’s warning cuts to the heart of the issue: the country’s energy future may depend less on the resources beneath the ground and more on the capacity of the people managing them.
Without sustained investment in skills and knowledge, Nigeria risks finding itself rich in resources but constrained by its ability to fully harness them.
