In the wake of recent large-scale staff transfers by the Central Bank of Nigeria and the relocation of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria to Lagos, the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission has announced its intentions to move certain departments from Abuja to Lagos.
According to Daily Trust, sources indicate that this move will involve the transfer of over 200 staff members from Abuja to Lagos.
The decision comes amidst ongoing debates and discontent sparked by the federal government’s directive to relocate select departments of the CBN and the headquarters of FAAN from Abuja to Lagos.
Formerly known as the Department of Petroleum Resources, NUPRC operates under the purview of the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources.
Its mandate encompasses the oversight of the oil and gas industry, ensuring compliance with regulatory frameworks, and overseeing safety regulations pertaining to the import and export of petroleum products.
A senior management source revealed, “The Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Gbenga Komolafe, has initiated plans to relocate certain departments to Lagos. He argues that this move is necessary to accommodate new staff he intends to recruit.” However, concerns have been raised regarding the justification for this relocation, particularly since the commission’s headquarters was relocated from Lagos to Abuja less than two years ago, and construction of a substantial new headquarters building in Abuja nears completion.
The new headquarters, situated in the Central Business District of the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, is a 10-storey building approved by the Federal Executive Council in 2020.
The construction, initially slated for completion within 24 months, spans 4,150 sqm with the main building occupying approximately 48,400 sqm, inclusive of a basement and a penthouse.
