NUPRC and NNRA Work Together to Reduce Radiation Regulations

Emmanuel Addeh in Abuja

The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) announced that it is partnering with the Nigerian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NNRA) to eliminate overlapping rules and regulations that affect radiation use in the oil and gas sector.

During a meeting at the NUPRC headquarters in Abuja, the Commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, and the NNRA’s Director General and Chief Executive, Dr. Yau Idris, agreed that streamlining the regulatory framework would lower overall operating costs.

While the NUPRC oversees the technical, commercial and operational aspects of oil and gas exploration and production, the NNRA regulates the possession, use, transportation and disposal of radioactive sources and promotes the beneficial use of radiation technologies across various economic sectors.

Eyesan noted that addressing regulatory gaps and the multiplicity of rules is essential to improving the ease of doing business. “The only way we can safeguard investments is to reduce our cost of operations, and when you have a multiplicity of laws, the likelihood is that you will have higher costs because each law normally will come with its own fee and charges,” she said.

She nominated senior officials from the commission who will work closely with the NNRA on the task ahead. “We have identified critical areas on both sides and we believe that as we collaborate, we can close existing gaps,” she added.

Responding, the NNRA’s DG stated that the upstream petroleum sector is one of the largest users of radioactive sources and ionising and radiation‑emitting equipment in Nigeria, particularly for well logging, industrial radiography and nucleonic gauging. The NNRA therefore relies on the NUPRC’s cooperation to fulfil its mandate.

“The goal is a single‑window approach, where both agencies share information rather than requiring operators to submit the same data twice,” he said.

Idris also explained that oil and gas extraction often brings Naturally Occurring Radioactive Materials (NORM) to the surface, and the NNRA seeks the commission’s assistance to ensure operators conduct radiological impact assessments. This is part of the broader Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) framework, while NORM management protocols are incorporated into the NUPRC’s environmental guidelines for the upstream sector.

Both institutions are also expected to collaborate on training and knowledge sharing in radiation protection and safe operations.