The Nigerian Maritime Administration and Safety Agency (NIMASA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have agreed to deepen collaboration.
This is aimed at improving regulatory oversight and boosting investment in Nigeria’s maritime and upstream petroleum sectors.
The commitment followed a working visit by NIMASA Director-General, Dr. Dayo Mobereola, to NUPRC Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
According to a statement issued by NIMASA spokesperson Osagie Edward, both agencies stressed that closer coordination is vital to improving ease of doing business, eliminating operational bottlenecks, and optimising federal revenue generation.
During the meeting, the regulators highlighted the need for harmonised oversight where their mandates intersect, noting that fragmented supervision can delay project execution and increase compliance costs.
They emphasised that aligning regulatory standards and enforcement approaches would enhance certainty for investors and strengthen Nigeria’s competitiveness.
NIMASA’s responsibilities, including the promotion of indigenous participation in shipping and marine environmental protection, were described as closely linked to NUPRC’s mandate to supervise upstream petroleum operations, enforce safety and environmental standards, and drive investment in exploration and production.
Both agencies agreed that synchronising their roles would support safer offshore operations, improve environmental safeguards, and create more predictable regulatory outcomes across maritime and upstream petroleum value chains.
The meeting concluded with a shared resolve to sustain inter-agency engagement as part of broader efforts to strengthen Nigeria’s investment climate and ensure efficient revenue generation from critical sectors of the economy.
