Nigeria’s oil and gas industry may be heading toward a critical turning point, not due to declining reserves or asset divestments, but because of a growing shortage of skilled professionals needed to sustain the sector’s future growth.
This warning came from the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Oritsemeyewa Eyesan, who urged indigenous operators to urgently invest in human capital development or risk undermining the industry’s long-term viability.
She charged the Independent Petroleum Producers Group to uphold industry standards, strengthen human capital development, and promote good corporate governance.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by the Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu.
Speaking during a courtesy visit by the Independent Petroleum Producers Group, led by its Chairman, Adegbite Falade, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja, Eyesan said the growing dominance of local firms following the exit of international oil companies had placed greater responsibility on indigenous players.
She warned that without deliberate investment in skills and capacity, the industry could face a crisis that would affect not just individual companies but Nigeria’s global standing.
Eyesan added that the implications of weak capacity go beyond company performance, stressing that global investors assess Nigeria as a whole.
“One area I think we need to spotlight is human capital development. As the industry grows, there is a tendency toward default, and if we allow that to fester, it will hurt all of us.
“Because we are in a global market, the financiers are rating Nigeria; they are not rating companies, and if we do not bring our human capacity to par, then we will be creating a big problem for ourselves,” she said.
With divestments by international oil companies reshaping Nigeria’s upstream landscape, Eyesan described the IPPG as a “significant force” that must now uphold the highest industry standards.
She challenged the group to enforce discipline among its members and emulate the operational standards historically associated with multinational operators.
“As a pressure group, you should hold yourselves to a standard. I think that is one of the things the IOCs have done very well,” she said.
The NUPRC boss also stressed strict compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, noting that strong corporate governance and regulatory alignment are essential to sustaining investor confidence.
Reaffirming the Commission’s role as a business enabler, Eyesan assured operators of continued regulatory support in line with the economic agenda of President Bola Tinubu.
She also disclosed that the Commission had fully transitioned to a paperless system as part of broader reforms to improve efficiency and transparency.
“When I took over, we realised we needed to transform, and we set up a transformation team. We are happy to announce that on Friday, April 18, 2026, we went paperless, and everybody collaborated to make it happen,” she said.
Responding, Falade commended the NUPRC leadership, noting that the industry had begun to witness positive changes since Eyesan assumed office in December 2025.
“You have not been here for long, but the signs are very clear as to your dynamic leadership. We will not stop emphasising that because we do not take it for granted,” he said.
He also called for sustained engagement between the regulator and indigenous producers, pledging the group’s commitment to national development.
“You can always count on and trust that the Nigerian agenda is at the heart of our mandate,” Falade added.
Nigeria’s oil and gas sector is undergoing a major transition, driven by the divestment of international oil companies and the increasing role of indigenous operators. While this shift has been hailed as a step toward local content development, industry experts warn that it has also exposed a widening skills gap.
For decades, multinational firms provided technical expertise, training, and global best practices. Their gradual exit has left indigenous companies with the challenge of filling that void, often without sufficient technical manpower.
The shortage of skilled professionals, from engineers and geoscientists to project managers, could slow production growth, weaken operational efficiency, and ultimately affect Nigeria’s competitiveness in the global energy market.
Eyesan’s warning, therefore, underscores a deeper concern: that without urgent investment in human capital, Nigeria’s oil and gas ambitions could be constrained not by resources, but by the capacity to manage them.
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