The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have resolved to strengthen collaboration towards promoting transparency, accountability and integrity in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
The commitment was made on Friday when the NUPRC Chief Executive, Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, led members of her management team on a courtesy visit to the ICPC Chairman, Dr Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Aliyu said the strategic importance of the NUPRC to the Nigerian economy made it imperative for both institutions to work closely to ensure that the upstream petroleum sector operates transparently and efficiently.
He stressed that the credibility of the regulatory system was critical to attracting and retaining investors in the sector.
“Integrity in your sector is very important. We need investors, and if we are not transparent, it will be difficult for NUPRC to operate optimally,” Aliyu said.
The ICPC chairman warned that corruption could thrive where institutional safeguards and regulatory systems were weak, urging the NUPRC to continue strengthening its internal processes.
He also commended the upstream regulator for its performance in the ICPC’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), describing the achievement as a demonstration of its commitment to ethical standards and institutional integrity.
Aliyu identified information sharing and mutual trust as essential to effective anti-corruption enforcement, noting that the ICPC could benefit from NUPRC’s technical expertise when investigating cases involving the petroleum industry.
He also called for increased collaboration between both agencies in procurement and other areas aimed at preventing wastage, leakages and other corrupt practices.
Earlier, Eyesan said the upstream petroleum sector remained a major source of revenue for Nigeria, stressing that its capital-intensive nature required effective regulation, good governance and a conducive investment environment.
She described the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a major reform aimed at restructuring the regulatory environment and restoring investor confidence in the sector, particularly following years of declining investments.
According to her, the NUPRC is also focused on unlocking Nigeria’s vast gas resources while improving governance across upstream operations.
Eyesan disclosed that the Commission was reviewing the qualification requirements for its regular bidding rounds following challenges involving some indigenous operators who lacked the financial and technical capacity to develop assets awarded to them.
She added that disputes over some assets had also contributed to delays in their development.
The NUPRC chief executive further announced that the Commission would organise an onboarding programme for successful bidders in October.
She said the NUPRC planned to involve the ICPC in the programme to educate new awardees on good governance, integrity and regulatory compliance.
Eyesan expressed appreciation to the ICPC for its support and assured the Commission of NUPRC’s continued cooperation and information sharing towards strengthening regulatory operations and promoting accountability in the upstream petroleum sector.
