The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, has been urged to deploy cutting-edge surveillance technologies to address oil theft and pipeline damage in the country.
The suggestion is part of the recommendations in a report by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Network, RHAN, which assessed the impact of the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, PIA, as driven by the NUPRC under the leadership of Engr. Gbenga Komolafe.
A summary of the report, released in a statement by Secretary General of RHAN, Fabian Opialu, highlighted how the implementation of the PIA by the NUPRC is transforming the country’s oil and gas sector.
According to the report, through the implementation of the PIA, the NUPRC has strengthened engagement with host communities, ensuring benefits from oil production reach local populations.
The agency, according to the report, has also facilitated open dialogue and cooperation between government agencies, international investors and host communities.
The report equally noted that the Commission has embraced digitalization, ensuring real-time monitoring of oil production and compliance, which has helped curb crude oil theft and improved accuracy in production reporting.
However, the report identified challenges which the Commission ought to address, and also proferred recommendations on ways to address the problems.
The challenges, according to the report include oil theft, regulatory bottlenecks, and security threats.
To overcome these challenges, the report recommends that the NUPRC ,”continue to enhance transparency and digitalization, strengthening security measures by cutting-edge surveillance technologies to address oil theft and pipeline damage”.
The Commission was also advised to maintain improved stakeholder engagement, ensuring continuous dialogue with host communities, international investors, and oil-producing firms.
The report said, “Undoubtedly, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has undergone a dramatic transformation since the petroleum Industrial Act (PIA) was passed.
“It has contributed to the establishment of a well-organized regulatory environment with the goal of improving investment opportunities, efficiency, and transparency.
“In addition to ensuring that regulatory oversight is reinforced to support sustainable growth in the upstream petroleum sector, the establishment of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been crucial in advancing these reforms.
“However, with Engineer Gbenga Komolafe strategic foresight in increasing operational efficiency in NUPRC, it can be conclusively said that, better than before, an atmosphere that is favorable to investment and economic expansion now exist.
“Despite putting policies like security enhancement, digitization, stakeholder engagement, and revenue optimization in place, challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles, host community concerns, and oil theft, though now at minimal, still remain issues that require continuous attention and strategic interventions.
“We are convinced that with consistent implementation of reforms and a commitment to global best practices, the PIA and the efforts of the NUPRC will continue to shape Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, ensuring it remains a vital contributor to national economic development.”