ICPC, NUPRC Deepen Partnership to Strengthen Transparency in Upstream Sector

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have agreed to strengthen collaboration to promote transparency, accountability and integrity in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry.

The commitment was made on Friday, September 11, 2026, when the NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, led members of her management team on a courtesy visit to the ICPC headquarters in Abuja.

Speaking during the visit, ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, said the anti-corruption agency was ready to support initiatives aimed at building a more transparent and accountable regulatory framework in the petroleum sector.

According to a statement issued by the ICPC Head of Media and Public Communications, Okor Odey, described NUPRC as a strategically important institution to Nigeria’s economy, warning that weaknesses in the operations of the upstream regulator could have significant consequences for the country’s economic fortunes.

He called for closer institutional cooperation between the two agencies, particularly in the areas of integrity, information sharing, investigations, procurement and prevention of financial leakages.

“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.

He noted that corruption was more likely to thrive where institutional controls and safeguards were weak, stressing the need for sustained cooperation between regulatory and anti-corruption institutions.

The ICPC chairman also commended NUPRC’s performance under the Commission’s Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS), describing the achievement as an indication of the regulator’s commitment to ethical conduct and institutional integrity.

Aliyu further emphasised the importance of mutual trust and timely information sharing, particularly given the technical nature of investigations involving the petroleum industry.

He said the ICPC could leverage NUPRC’s technical expertise in the upstream sector, while both agencies could work together to strengthen procurement procedures, curb wastage and block avenues for resource leakages.

Earlier, Eyesan said the upstream petroleum industry remained critical to Nigeria’s revenue generation, noting that the capital-intensive nature of the sector required effective regulation, sound governance and investor confidence.

She described the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) as a major reform designed to transform the regulatory landscape and create a more attractive investment environment, particularly after years of declining investment in the sector.

The NUPRC chief executive said the Commission was also intensifying efforts to develop Nigeria’s gas resources while strengthening governance and regulatory oversight across upstream operations.

Eyesan disclosed that NUPRC was reviewing qualification requirements for its regular bidding rounds following challenges involving some indigenous operators who secured oil and gas assets but lacked the financial and technical capacity to develop them.

She added that disagreements over some awarded assets had also contributed to delays in their development.

According to her, NUPRC would organise an onboarding programme for successful awardees in October and planned to invite the ICPC to participate in the exercise.

She said the involvement of the anti-corruption agency would help sensitise successful operators on good governance, integrity and compliance with regulatory requirements.

Eyesan expressed appreciation to the ICPC for its support and assured the Commission that NUPRC would sustain the partnership by sharing relevant concerns and working jointly to improve the effectiveness of its operations.