The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has taken steps to digitise its procurement system as part of measures to promote transparency and accountability in its procurement operations.
The Commission has also partnered with the Bureau of Public Procurement (BPP) to boost its level of compliance with procurement practices to over 95 per cent.
According to a statement by the NUPRC Head of Media and Corporate Communication, Eniola Akinkuotu, the Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyewa Eyesan, made this known during a capacity building workshop for the NUPRC top management, held on Wednesday, April 15, 2026, in Abuja.
The statement said the capacity-building programme organised in collaboration with the BPP, was aimed at consolidating the Commission’s procurement practices in line with the Public Procurement Act 2007 and international best practices.
“One of the things that came to the fore is that compliance is critical, especially in the industry we regulate. There is zero tolerance for indecision and corruption, and so we must not be found in error,” Eyesan stated in her remarks during the event.
While reaffirming the Commission’s commitment to revamping its procurement practices and ensuring full compliance, Eyesan said, “Whatever we must do, whatever knowledge we need to acquire, whatever amendments or processes, we must institute those changes as quickly as possible. And the best way to proceed is to be fully aware and properly educated about what needs to happen.”
The move to launch a digital platform to manage NUPRC’s procurement system is aimed at eliminating human interference.
Accountability and Timelines
The Commission has set a timeline for implementing the reforms.
According to Eyesan, the NUPRC will conduct a formal audit within the next six months to measure progress.
She expressed confidence in reaching at least 90 per cent to 95 per cent compliance within this period.
“We are already working on this, and by God’s grace, we will be launching a digital platform for our correspondences. And we will take it a notch higher to ensure that all our processes are digitised.
“I am making a commitment on behalf of my colleagues—that in six months’ time, we will carry out an audit. I want to be able to say that we have met, if not all, but at least 90% compliance,” the NUPRC CCE said.
Internally, NUPRC aims to eliminate paper trails entirely to speed up operations and enhance traceability.
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Supporting these efforts, Dr. Adebowale Adedokun, Director-General of the BPP, lauded the NUPRC’s ambition to become a leader in procurement transparency, urging the management team to translate the workshop’s insights into tangible results.
The digital approach builds on the success of the 2024 round, where automation significantly improved royalty payment compliance . These reforms are critical as oil accounts for over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s foreign exchange and 70 per cent of government revenue.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X