Title: FG moves to plug oil revenue leaks as NUPRC commissions West Africa’s first gravimetric calibration facility Date Published: 18 February 2026 Description: The Federal Government has intensified efforts to strengthen accountability and transparency in Nigeria’s crude oil sector with the commissioning of a state-of-the-art Gravimetric Multifaceted Flow Metering Calibration Facility by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in Eket, Akwa Ibom State.The initiative, complemented by the signing of a cooperation agreement with the International Energy Agency (IEA), signals a renewed push to curb revenue leakages, improve measurement accuracy, and align Nigeria’s petroleum industry with global best practices.The Eket facility, described as the first of its kind in West Africa, is expected to resolve long-standing challenges associated with crude oil measurement inaccuracies—issues that have often led to disputes among operators, loss of government revenue, and dependence on foreign laboratories for calibration services.Speaking at the commissioning ceremony, NUPRC Chief Executive, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, commended Engineering Automation Technology Limited, the indigenous firm behind the project, for its foresight and commitment to Nigeria’s local content development. Represented by the Commission’s Deputy Director for Development, Manuel Ibituroko, Eyesan described the facility as “a transformative leap forward” for the upstream petroleum industry.He explained that the plant is equipped with advanced zero-touch automation, tamper-proof audit trails and high-precision gravimetric standards designed to eliminate human interference, reduce downtime and ensure credible metering of crude oil volumes.According to NUPRC, the facility has the capacity to calibrate turbine, ultrasonic, Coriolis, electromagnetic and positive displacement meters—critical equipment used to measure crude flows across pipelines and export terminals—thereby enhancing regulatory compliance, operational efficiency and production optimisation.Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Engineering Automation Technology Limited, Dr Emmanuel Okon, said the project was inspired by Nigeria’s local content policy, which since 2020 has encouraged indigenous firms to develop in-country technical capacity and reduce capital flight.In a related development, the Federal Government also signed a memorandum of understanding with the IEA to deepen cooperation in methane emissions reduction, gas development, clean cooking access and technical support. A statement by the spokesperson to the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Louis Mbah, said the agreement was executed at the IEA headquarters in Paris.Speaking at the signing ceremony, the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources (Gas), Ekperikpe Ekpo, said the agreement formalises a strategic partnership aimed at improving efficiency, strengthening governance and positioning Nigeria’s petroleum sector in line with international standards.He noted that the collaboration builds on previous engagements between Nigeria and the IEA, including the inaugural sub-Saharan Africa roundtable on methane emissions reduction hosted by Nigeria.IEA Executive Director, Fatih Birol, commended Nigeria’s commitment to cutting methane emissions and expanding access to clean cooking gas, describing the partnership as a significant step toward sustainable energy development in Africa. Attached Images: 1d6155804cf4c8319df1f46d34b2d9dde431b42a6998a5a8e93776e9f7cd6efa.jpg Attached Video: None