By Ogaga Ariemu
Amid overlapping functions, President Muhamadu Buhari has ordered the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, to supervise all crude oil export terminals in the country.
Buhari’s intervention was contained in a letter dated May 3, 2023, with reference number: SH/COS/24/78 sent to the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA.
The development comes amid clamour among stakeholders for a clear role definition for the two agencies.
According to the letter, the President said the exercise of any regulatory role by the NUPRC and NMDPRA “on any existing crude oil export terminal established before the effective date of the PIA should cease immediately”.
The President called for compliance with the resolution of the Senate which recognized the NUPRC as the sole entity to regulate and monitor the activities of all crude oil export terminals in Nigeria in line with section 7ee of the PIA, 2021.
