The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has taken a transformative step in dispute resolution for the upstream oil and gas industry with the inauguration of the Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre’s Body of Neutrals.

This initiative aims to provide quality, cost-effective, and efficient alternatives to traditional litigation in dispute resolution within the oil and gas sector.

The Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, who also serves as the Chairman of the NUPRC Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre (ADRC), stated that the inauguration of the Body of Neutrals marks a new chapter in the sector’s approach to conflict management.

According to him, disputes within the oil and gas industry often lead to prolonged legal battles, high costs, and strained relationships, particularly between producers and host communities.

The new Body of Neutrals, he added, seeks to address these issues through alternative dispute resolution (ADR) methods such as mediation and conciliation, ensuring quicker, less adversarial outcomes.

With a mission to promote fairness, efficiency, and integrity in resolving conflicts, the initiative aims to foster direct communication between parties, offering timely and cost-effective resolutions.

Comprising experienced professionals from the legal and oil and gas sectors, the Lagos Alternative Dispute Resolution Centre’s Body of Neutrals has 27 members, including the former President of the National Industrial Court, Justice Babatunde Adejumo. These individuals are tasked with mediating disputes that affect both corporate entities and local communities, with the objective of improving access to justice and reducing the burden on the judicial system by offering quicker, more equitable resolutions.