Abuja – The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has announced plans to begin the tracking of all crude oil cargoes leaving the country, in a move aimed at curbing oil theft, improving transparency, and safeguarding the nation’s most critical revenue source.
The Commission made this disclosure on Thursday, stating that the initiative is part of its broader strategy to strengthen regulatory oversight within Nigeria’s upstream oil sector. According to the Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, the tracking mechanism will leverage cutting-edge technology to monitor crude oil volumes from the point of extraction to export terminals, ensuring that every barrel is accurately accounted for.
The Commission emphasized that the decision aligns with the Federal Government’s renewed efforts to plug revenue leakages and combat the longstanding challenge of crude oil theft, which has cost Nigeria billions of dollars in lost earnings over the years. Komolafe added that the tracking system will also enhance data reliability and position Nigeria as a more transparent and investor-friendly oil-producing country.
Under the new framework, the NUPRC will deploy a combination of digital surveillance tools, satellite imagery, and advanced metering infrastructure to ensure continuous oversight of cargo movements across all export terminals. Stakeholders, including international oil companies, indigenous producers, and relevant government agencies, are expected to collaborate closely with the Commission to facilitate seamless implementation.
The tracking initiative also comes amid increased pressure on Nigeria to meet its OPEC production quotas and restore confidence in its oil sector, which has struggled in recent years with declining output and persistent security concerns in the Niger Delta region.
The NUPRC reiterated its commitment to enforcing regulatory compliance, boosting national oil output, and restoring integrity to Nigeria’s crude oil export system. The Commission assured Nigerians that with this new measure, the days of opaque oil transactions and unchecked diversions are gradually coming to an end.
