The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission has called for the accelerated completion of its proposed headquarters in Abuja, saying the facility will improve its operations and enhance Nigeria’s image before international investors.
Known as “The Barrel”, the 10-storey building is being constructed in the Central Business District of Abuja and is designed to accommodate between 900 and 1,000 staff.
The project, which began in 2020, is yet to be completed. As a result, the commission currently operates from several offices across the Federal Capital Territory.
The Chairman of the NUPRC Governing Board, Senator Magnus Abe, raised concerns over the arrangement during an inspection of the project, saying it could undermine Nigeria’s efforts to attract investment into the oil and gas sector.
Abe said it was inappropriate for major international oil companies negotiating multibillion-dollar investments to move between different locations across Abuja to meet officials of the same regulator.
“It is a thing of great embarrassment to this country when major oil and gas companies come to Nigeria to discuss investments worth billions of dollars, only to meet the regulator in a block of flats and from there proceed to other parts of the city to see different departments,” he said.
According to him, completing the headquarters would provide a single location for the commission’s operations and interactions with industry stakeholders, while projecting greater confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
“The edifice will enable the industry to operate from one central location, bring pride to our nation and serve as a symbol of confidence,” he added.
Abe also commended President Bola Tinubu for the support and policy direction provided to the commission and said recent reforms were contributing to renewed investment interest in Nigeria’s upstream petroleum industry.
He noted that increased investments were already creating jobs and business opportunities, supporting host communities and generating additional revenue for the government.
The NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, urged the contractor handling the project to intensify work and ensure that the headquarters is completed by the first quarter of 2027.
Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Peer Lubasch, assured the commission that the company would make every effort to meet the proposed completion timeline.
A statement by NUPRC’s Head of Media and Corporate Communications, Eniola Akinkuotu, said the building’s distinctive design takes the form of a curved, convex cylinder, reflecting the shape of a barrel.
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