By Obinna Uballa
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission’s (NUPRC) revocation of the Oritsemeyin drilling rig’s operating licence is a wake-up call to upstream operators to tighten compliance with safety and operational standards, according to oil and gas consultant Dr. Maurice Ibe.
Ibe, Group Executive Chairman of Benham Group, said the decision underscored the regulator’s readiness to enforce the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 without fear or favour.
“Oritsemeyin apparently did not adhere to standard operating procedures and protocols,” Ibe told journalists in Abuja on Sunday. “This action is a strong message from NUPRC. It shows the regulator’s seriousness about sanctioning erring operators and warning others to strictly conform with the standards set in the PIA. Serious investors should applaud this decisiveness because it prevents potential safety issues that could snowball into catastrophe.”
The New Diplomat had reported that the NUPRC in a notice dated September 11, to Selective Marine Services Limited, operator of the Oritsemeyin rig, revoked its licence and barred further renewal. The regulator explained that a dangerous “kick”, the influx of oil, gas or water into a wellbore, occurred during drilling of the UDIBE-2 well, causing costly delays and a forced sidetrack.
Despite a culpability notice in June and a July reminder, the operator reportedly failed to resolve the matter, prompting the revocation.
The Oritsemeyin rig, built alongside its twin Rig Onome at a combined cost of $508 million, was once hailed as proof of Nigerian indigenous capacity.
But its owner, Seawolf Oil Services, a firm promoted by Adolor Uwamu and Remi Okunlola, reportedly defaulted on loans of over N100 billion by 2011, leading the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON) to seize the assets.
Both rigs sat idle at Lagos Marina for years until AMCON in 2019 redeployed Oritsemeyin under Selective Marine’s management. Rig Onome, according to reports, remains stranded.
Oritsemeyin also drew headlines in November 2024 when armed soldiers stormed the platform to eject NUPENG-affiliated workers, sparking outrage from the Nigeria Labour Congress and PENGASSAN. The clampdown, tied to unresolved severance agreements, nearly triggered a nationwide strike before government intervention.
Ibe argued that while the rig’s collapse has symbolic weight, the broader lesson is about discipline in the sector.
“This is not only about Oritsemeyin,” he stressed. “It is about global best practice, accountability, and the safety of the entire industry. Operators must realise that regulators will not hesitate to wield the big stick when standards are compromised.”
