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The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has warned that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector faces a growing shortage of skilled professionals, which could threaten the industry’s long-term sustainability if not urgently addressed. The concern was raised by the Commission’s Chief Executive, Oritsemeyewa Eyesan, who noted that the challenge is not about declining oil reserves but a critical human capacity gap. 
Eyesan urged indigenous oil companies to invest heavily in human capital development, stressing that as international oil companies exit and local firms take over assets, the responsibility to maintain industry standards now rests more on Nigerian operators. She warned that failure to build capacity could weaken company performance and damage Nigeria’s global competitiveness in the energy market. 
The NUPRC boss also called on the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) to uphold high operational standards, strong corporate governance, and continuous workforce development. According to her, global investors assess Nigeria’s oil sector as a whole—not individual companies—meaning weak capacity in one area can affect the country’s overall reputation. 
The warning comes at a time when Nigeria’s upstream sector is undergoing major changes due to divestments by international oil firms. With indigenous companies now playing a dominant role, the NUPRC emphasised that closing the talent gap and improving standards will be crucial to sustaining growth, attracting investment, and securing the future of the industry. 
