With praise for the leadership of its Chief Executive, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, whose stewardship has established a new standard for accountability and efficiency in the country’s oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been recognized as the most transparent and exceptional government agency in the nation.
The Public Space Tracker in West Africa stated in a statement released in Ghana on Wednesday that since Komolafe took office, NUPRC has shown “remarkable openness, policy innovation, and integrity in the management of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum resources.”
The organization emphasized that resource governance transparency is not just a catchphrase but a quantifiable practice that has come to be associated with the NUPRC, characterizing the Commission as an example of how regulatory agencies ought to operate in a democracy.
The Commission under Komolafe has restored confidence among investors, civil society organizations, and citizens by providing clear data on oil production, licensing, royalties, and revenue remittances, according to Dr. Ousman Zaharadeen, Convener of the Public Space Tracker.
“Engr. Gbenga Komolafe has demonstrated that a government organization can be both transparent and effective with intentional leadership. The NUPRC has demonstrated exceptional proficiency in disseminating reliable information, interacting with stakeholders in an authentic manner, and guaranteeing the equitable and responsible management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources. This, in our opinion, makes it the most exceptional and transparent agency in Nigeria right now,” Zaharadeen stated.
The group emphasized how the Commission consistently publishes industry statistics, makes sure the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) is followed, and builds trust by regularly interacting with operators, communities, and civil society. It further stated that these actions have improved Nigeria’s reputation internationally for resource governance in addition to increasing public accountability.
Zaharadeen claims that NUPRC’s transparency efforts have contributed to less opacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which has long been plagued by corruption and secrecy.
He underlined that the Commission has set Nigeria on the path to better energy equity and fiscal discipline by spearheading reforms in upstream petroleum regulation.
“The Commission’s strict regulatory oversight and insistence on real-time monitoring of crude oil production have reduced leaks and increased government revenues.” Additionally, it has shown via its interactions with host communities that extractive governance can be inclusive and people-centered,” the statement said.
In addition, Public Space Tracker in West Africa praised NUPRC’s cooperative strategy against oil theft, stating that the Commission’s involvement has been essential to recent increases in output and income.
“NUPRC has gained trust both domestically and internationally thanks to its transparent operations. Because of this, Nigeria today draws more serious investors who see that the laws are enforced equitably, consistently, and clearly,” Zaharadeen said.
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The organization stressed that accountability and transparency are essential to restoring public confidence in government and asked other government bodies to follow the Commission’s lead.
Nigeria requires regulators in many industries, not only petroleum, who can follow the NUPRC’s lead. This is about quantifiable steps that bolster institutions, calm investors, and help regular people, not propaganda,” he stated.
Public Space Tracker in West Africa called for long-term reforms but said it was confident that under Komolafe’s direction, the Commission will keep strengthening Nigeria’s economic foundation, increasing transparency, and accelerating the nation’s shift to a more responsible resource economy.
“We have recognized the NUPRC as the federation’s most exceptional and transparent agency. The statement ended by praising Engr. Komolafe for his outstanding leadership and urging him to continue on this path of transparency, responsibility, and innovation for the benefit of the Nigerian people.
