The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has set a target of completing its proposed permanent headquarters in the first quarter of 2027, saying the project will enhance operational efficiency and strengthen Nigeria’s attractiveness to oil and gas investors.
According to a statement by the Head, Media and Communications, NUPRC, Eniola Akinkuotu, the Commission’s Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, gave the target during an inspection of the proposed headquarters in Abuja on Thursday, where she directed the contractor, Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, to fast-track construction and deliver the project within the first quarter of 2027.
The 10-storey building known as “The Barrel”, located in Abuja’s Central Business District, is designed in the likeness of a convex, curved cylinder that bulges outward at its centre. The facility is expected to accommodate between 900 and 1,000 personnel when completed.
The project was initiated in 2020 but remains unfinished, leaving the NUPRC operating from smaller offices at different locations across the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during the inspection, the Chairman of the NUPRC Board, Senator Magnus Abe, said the fragmented nature of the Commission’s operations was creating an unfavourable impression among major investors seeking to engage the petroleum regulator.
Abe said it was embarrassing for the country when international oil and gas companies coming to Nigeria to discuss investments worth billions of dollars had to move between different NUPRC offices across Abuja to transact business with various departments.
“It is a thing of great embarrassment to this country when major oil and gas companies come to Nigeria to discuss investments worth billions of dollars, only to meet the regulator in a block of flats and from there proceed to other parts of the city to see different departments to conduct transactions with the NUPRC,” he said.
“This image is not just bad for the country, but bad for business,” he added.
According to the board chairman, completion of The Barrel would provide a central location for the Commission’s operations and engagements with industry stakeholders, while projecting a stronger image of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
He said the building would also serve as a symbol of national pride and confidence in the country’s oil and gas industry.
“The edifice will enable the industry to operate from one central location, bring pride to our nation and serve as a symbol of confidence,” Abe said.
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The NUPRC board chairman also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for providing what he described as strong support, policy clarity and a clear vision for the oil and gas industry.
He said the impact of the administration’s policies was already becoming evident through renewed investment activity in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Abe noted that the investments were creating employment and business opportunities, supporting development in host communities and increasing government revenues.
Meanwhile, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engineer Peer Lubasch, assured the Commission that the contractor would make efforts to meet the first-quarter 2027 completion timeline.
The completion of The Barrel is expected to consolidate the NUPRC’s operations in one location, potentially reducing the logistical challenges currently associated with its dispersed offices and making engagements between the regulator and industry operators more efficient.
The project is therefore being positioned not only as an administrative facility but also as part of efforts to improve the institutional environment for investment in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Victor Ezeja is a Nigerian journalist skilled in producing insightful news analyses, feature stories, and interviews that simplify complex issues and drive informed public discourse. His work combines rigorous research, balanced reporting, and compelling storytelling to highlight developments shaping industries and society. Victor, who holds a Master's Degree in Mass Communication, specializes in energy, aviation, business, and economic reporting. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X