NUPRC Calls for Stronger Nigerian Participation in Offshore Oil Sector

By Adedapo Adesanya

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has called for stronger Nigerian participation in the offshore oil and gas value chain, saying growing offshore activity must translate into maritime investment, industrial capacity, technology and jobs.

NUPRC Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made the call while delivering a lecture at the Lagos International Maritime Week 2026 and the 11th International Maritime Business-to-Business Conference and Exhibition.

Mrs Eyesan, represented by Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community, Captain John Tonlagha, said Nigeria must move beyond extracting hydrocarbons to building a globally competitive ecosystem of maritime services around offshore developments.

“The pathway before us is clear. Policy to practice must mean moving from petroleum acreage to investment; from investment to offshore projects; from projects to production; from production to maritime enterprise; and from maritime enterprise to Nigerian jobs, technology, industrial capability and sustainable economic prosperity,” she said.

According to Mrs Eyesan, offshore investments would not automatically generate national value unless they were connected to domestic capabilities, competitive suppliers, skills development, infrastructure and measurable performance.

She therefore called for increased investment in ports, ship-repair facilities, fabrication yards, logistics bases, storage systems, waste-management facilities and coastal transport infrastructure.

The NUPRC boss also urged greater participation by Nigerian companies across the offshore value chain, including vessel ownership and operations, marine logistics, subsea engineering, fabrication, equipment maintenance, inspection, certification, environmental services and marine surveying.

She said developing these capabilities would enable Nigeria to retain more value from offshore petroleum activities while creating opportunities for local businesses and workers.

Mrs Eyesan also stressed that expanding offshore oil and gas activities must be matched by stronger environmental protection.

“The blue economy cannot be sustainable if the marine environment is treated as an afterthought,” she said.

She noted that the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, 2021 provides an enabling framework for offshore development, including provisions for responsible decommissioning and abandonment of petroleum facilities.

Mrs Eyesan said Nigeria’s performance should ultimately be measured not only by increased offshore investment and production, but also by stronger energy security, greater Nigerian maritime value and improved protection of the marine environment.

She added that the country should position itself as a competitive offshore energy and maritime-services hub for Africa.