Coalition backs relocation of NUPRC to Lagos

The Coalition of Civil Society Organisations on Friday endorsed the relocation and redeployment of some personnel of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) to Lagos State, calling on Nigerians to support the process as it promises to not only bring the agency much closer to the oil and gas companies and other stakeholders.

This was just as the coalition noted that the move was in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to cut costs, eliminate wastage and enhance service delivery.

The coalition gave the backing at a press conference in Lagos addressed by its spokesperson, Comrade Shina Loremikan, saying that the redeployment exercise was the outcome of fruitful consultation with key stakeholders, especially the labour unions.

According to Loremikan, the consultation which the Gbenga Komolafe-led NUPRC held with the stakeholders culminated “in taking of the decision, targeted at reducing pressure on accommodation in Abuja, maximizing the use of the Lagos-based office, reducing operational costs, improving organizational efficiency and enhancing industry growth.”

Loremikan posited that rather than politicising the planned movement of field officers to Lagos, the process should be endorsed and supported by everyone as it promises to not only bring NUPRC much closer to the oil and gas companies and other stakeholders but also position the agency to operate more efficiently while minimising cost and maximising returns to the government and the country.

It stated that the movement will also position the agency to operate more efficiently while minimising cost and maximising returns to the government and nation.

“We, members of the Coalition of Civil Society Organisations, endorse the redeployment of some personnel of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission in order to foster accountability, productivity and cost savings to the nation.

“The NUPRC has the mandate to monitor operations to ensure that they are in line with national goals and aspirations, including those relating to natural gas flare elimination and monetisation, domestic gas delivery obligations and domestic crude oil supply obligations and ensures that health safety and environmental regulations conform to national and international best oil field practice.

“Consequently, some persons, including politicians and analysts, who are aware of its various roles, have come to perceive the actions of NUPRC more from the realm of politics than economics.

“They keep a close watch on the activities in the agency and would complain about almost every development that does not fit into their pre-conceived idealism, instead of embracing realism based on purely economic considerations.

“Sadly, the decision has been unduly politicised and misconstrued to mean leaving Abuja. This constitutes a distraction to the NUPRC under the leadership of Engr. Komolafe means so well for the industry and Nigeria as illustrated in the bold steps taken to make a positive impact in the past few years.

“Take the latest efforts to move some personnel, especially field officers to Lagos, where many oil and gas companies have offices for example. The truth is that with the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act, comprehensive legislation, targeted at achieving restructuring, repositioning, increased productivity transparency and accountability, the NUPRC inherited many personnel and its current building in Abuja from the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, DPR. Sadly, many personnel do not have offices but work with their laptops from unsuitable locations, including conference rooms and corridors.

“Meanwhile, NUPRC still bears the financial and other costs of taking them frequently to Lagos, Warri and Port Harcourt to carry out their official duties.

“Indeed, the planned movement of field officers to Lagos should be endorsed and supported by everyone as it promises to not only bring NUPRC much closer to the oil and gas companies and other stakeholders but also position the agency to operate more efficiently while minimizing cost and maximising returns to the government and nation,” he said.

The coalition spokesperson, therefore, cautioned Nigerians to desist from attaching ethnicity and baseless arguments to nation-building.

“We need to state that in nation-building Nigerians should desist from attaching ethnicity and baseless arguments to nation-building,” he cautioned.