Institutional Coordination, Regulatory Clarity and Integrated Petroleum Operations

Following the publication of Executive Order No. 9 (2026), attention has largely focused on its fiscal implications and the restoration of a direct remittance framework for petroleum revenues.

However, the Order also contains important regulatory governance signals intended to address longstanding operational friction in the oversight of integrated petroleum operations.

Projects that span upstream production, midstream processing, and downstream infrastructure frequently sit at the intersection of the regulatory mandates of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This has operationally created areas of regulatory overlap, approval delays, and interpretational uncertainty.

In this second part of our Executive Order No. 9 Regulatory Governance Series, we examine:

• The regulatory coordination objectives embedded in the Executive Order
• How the Order interacts with the institutional framework established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021
• The potential implications for licensing, approvals, and operational oversight
• Practical considerations for operators and project sponsors navigating integrated petroleum activities

The analysis also sets out CANDELP’s perspective on how regulatory practice may evolve as the Order is implemented.

Read and download the full Bulletin below.