Change and Continuity: The Enduring Legacies of DPR Guidelines and Regulations in Nigeria’s Post-PIA 2021 Oil and Gas Industry

Abstract

The enduring legacies of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) is the cornerstone of the Nigerian oil and gas industry’s regulatory compliance. This paper examined the enduring impact of the DPR’s Guidelines and Regulations in Nigeria's oil and gas industry in spite of the dissolution of DPR by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, its guidelines and regulations subsists to regulate the Nigerian oil and gas industry. The paper adopted the doctrinal research method in analyzing the historical evolution and roles of the DPR, impact of the DPR’s guidelines and regulations on the oil and gas industry in Nigeria before and after the enactment of the PIA 2021, and the attitude of the new regulatory agencies. It maintained that though the PIA introduced new Regulatory framework in place of DPR, the DPR's legacy continues to shape 
the industry's operations, compliance requirements and regulatory practices. The paper found that the enduring impact of the DPR's guidelines and regulations is evidence of its indispensable relevance in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. It concluded that the regulatory frameworks need reinforcement to evolve effective mechanisms that promotes transparency, accountability and consistency to realize institutional capacity, human capital development and infrastructural upgrade to achieve regulatory effectiveness. The paper recommended transparent regulatory decisions and accountability of officials, collaboration with regulatory agencies, industry stakeholders, and government institutions to promote cohesive and effective regulatory environment, a balanced consumer protection, quality control and product assurance for business growth, customer satisfaction and safety without stifling investment.