By Onu Okorie

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission NUPRC has called for the speedy completion of its proposed headquarters, known as The Barrel, saying the project will improve the commission’s operational efficiency and enhance Nigeria’s attractiveness to investors.
The 10-storey office complex, located in Abuja’s Central Business District, is designed to accommodate between 900 and 1,000 personnel. The building, which takes the shape of a convex cylindrical barrel, was initiated in 2020 but remains unfinished, forcing the commission to operate from multiple office locations across the Federal Capital Territory.
Speaking during an inspection of the project, NUPRC Board Chairman, Senator Magnus Abe, said the commission’s current dispersed operating structure sends the wrong signal to international investors seeking to engage with Nigeria’s oil and gas regulator.
According to Abe, it is embarrassing for prospective investors discussing multibillion-dollar projects to move between different office locations in Abuja to access various departments of the commission. He noted that the situation undermines Nigeria’s efforts to attract investment and creates an image that is “bad for business.”
The board chairman said the completion of the headquarters would provide a central hub for regulatory activities and engagements with industry stakeholders, while symbolising confidence in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Abe also commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as strong policy support and clear direction for the petroleum sector, adding that government reforms were already contributing to renewed investment in the upstream industry. He said the investments were generating jobs, creating business opportunities, supporting host communities and increasing government revenues.
Also speaking during the inspection, NUPRC Chief Executive, Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, urged the contractor to accelerate work and ensure delivery of the project by the first quarter of 2027. [citation]
Responding, the Managing Director of Julius Berger Nigeria Plc, Engineer Peer Lubasch, assured the commission that efforts would be made to meet the proposed completion timeline.
The project is expected to consolidate NUPRC’s operations under one roof and provide a more efficient environment for regulatory services and engagement with investors in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.