The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) to strengthen radiation safety and eliminate harmful radioactive risks in Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector.
The collaboration also seeks to improve regulatory efficiency and reduce operational costs across the industry through streamlined compliance processes and closer inter-agency coordination.
The initiative followed discussions between the Commission Chief Executive of NUPRC, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the Director-General of NNRA, Dr. Yau Idris, at the Commission’s headquarters.
Eyesan said the partnership is aimed at addressing regulatory gaps and the multiplicity of compliance requirements that often increase the cost of operations for industry players.
“The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations. When you have multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that you will have higher costs because each law normally comes with its own fees and charges,” she said.
She noted that both agencies have identified priority areas for collaboration and have nominated senior officials to drive the initiative, with the goal of improving regulatory coordination in the sector.
The NNRA, which regulates the use, transportation, and disposal of radioactive materials, said the oil and gas industry remains one of the largest users of radiation-based technologies in Nigeria, particularly in well logging, industrial radiography, and nucleonic gauging.
Dr. Idris explained that the partnership would introduce a “single window” regulatory system, enabling both agencies to share information and reduce duplication of compliance requirements for operators.
He further stressed the importance of managing Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM), which are often brought to the surface during oil and gas extraction. Operators are expected to integrate radiological impact assessments into Environmental Impact Assessments, alongside strengthened safety protocols.
Both institutions also agreed to collaborate on training, capacity building, and knowledge sharing to enhance radiation protection and improve operational safety standards.
The partnership is expected to reduce regulatory bottlenecks, strengthen safety compliance, and improve investor confidence in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
