The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has advised members of the Crude Oil Refinery Owners Association of Nigeria to consider acquiring oil blocks in upcoming licensing rounds as a long-term strategy to address persistent crude supply challenges in the country.
The Commission Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, made the recommendation during a meeting with refinery operators at the agency’s headquarters in Abuja, where discussions focused on strengthening domestic refining capacity and improving crude availability.
She explained that allowing indigenous refiners to participate directly in upstream asset ownership would help create more stable supply arrangements and deepen local involvement across the petroleum value chain.
The regulator also assured stakeholders that Nigeria has sufficient crude resources to meet domestic refining needs, while reaffirming the commission’s commitment to policies that encourage local value addition in the oil sector.
In addition, she encouraged refinery operators to enter long-term supply agreements with crude producers, describing such arrangements as key to ensuring steady feedstock supply, better planning, and price stability.
However, she acknowledged that major infrastructure gaps—such as weak pipeline networks, storage limitations, and logistics bottlenecks—continue to hinder efficient crude delivery and require coordinated investment.
Members of the refinery association welcomed the regulatory reforms and called for stronger implementation of policies that guarantee consistent crude allocation to local refineries.
The engagement forms part of ongoing efforts between regulators and private operators to boost Nigeria’s domestic refining capacity and reduce reliance on imported petroleum products.
