BREAKING: Like FAAN, CBN, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission Plans to Move Units From Abuja To Lagos
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission is contemplating the relocation of certain units from the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja to Lagos State.
This intention was disclosed in a memorandum titled ‘Movement To Lagos,’ authored by Dr. Kelechi Onyeakachi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner of Corporate Services & Administration, dated February 14, 2024.
SaharaReporters obtained this memorandum on Thursday morning.
The circular suggests that the move aims to bolster the commission’s service delivery across the country.
The circular reads: “In line with our objectives of improving organizational efficiency, driving industry growth, and managing office accommodation in Abuja, we are exploring the possibility of relocating certain units to Lagos. This initiative is driven by the need to enhance our service delivery, and reduce operational costs. and make adequate utilization of our assets in Lagos.
“Consequently, we are requesting that each Department identify and provide a list of units that can operate independently with minimal supervision.”
“Submissions on the above are expected on or before the close of business on Friday, February 23, 2024,” it added.
Amidst mounting criticism, President Bola Tinubu’s authorization for relocating the corporate headquarters of the Federal Airport Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) and select Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) departments from Abuja to Lagos has sparked controversy.
The Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF) has strongly opposed President Tinubu’s decision to relocate the FAAN headquarters and certain CBN departments from Abuja to Lagos.
Prof. Muhammad Baba, the forum’s national publicity secretary, characterized the move as a deliberate scheme against the Northern Region.
Expressing concern that Northerners would bear the brunt of this sudden relocation, the group criticized the CBN’s decision, viewing it not as a routine administrative adjustment but as part of a worrisome trend of hostile actions by federal government agencies against Northern interests and those of other regions.
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In response to the outcry from the forum and other Northern groups, Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, dismissed the allegations, asserting that President Tinubu had no intentions of shifting the Federal Capital to Lagos.
