NUPRC Says NHRC Award A Call For Improved Performance

The Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has vowed to sustain regulatory efficiency to drive oil and gas industry growth.

The commission said, efforts are ongoing to sustain regulatory integrity through various initiatives, including its 2025 Action Plan, which aims to strengthen the regulatory and operational landscape.

The NUPRC’s Commission chief executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, who gave the assurances after receiving award by the Nigeria Human Right Community NHRC), in Lagos , emphasised transparent and predictable regulations to optimize upstream activities, fosters collaboration with exploration and production companies, and actively combats corruption.

Komolafe said the NUPRC has developed a comprehensive action plan for 2025 to further enhance the regulatory and operational landscape of the upstream oil and gas sector and  is working to improve regulatory efficiency, reduce costs, and foster collaboration with E&P companies.

He further emphasised the importance of transparent and predictable regulations to create a stable environment for investment and business, adding that, the agency has implemented a system of open competitive bidding for petroleum licenses, which enhances transparency and eliminates favoritism.

The NUPRC, he said, has established an Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) to enhance internal accountability and combat corruption within the organization and collaborates with the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to further strengthen anti-corruption efforts.

The Chief Executive also added that the NUPRC has launched a digital reporting app to ease regulatory compliance and oversight, which is part of a broader effort to enhance transparency and accountability and has implemented regulations for the audit of upstream measurement equipment and facilities to ensure accurate data and prevent revenue leakages.

In his remarks, Popoola Ajayi, speaking on behalf of the NHRC, said, no doubt, Nigeria has made tremendous progress since 1999 in the areas of infrastructure, communication, development of the private media, emergence of greater opportunities for Nigerians, especially, in the context of the emergent Information Technology, (IT), aviation, private higher and lower institutions and most importantly, the radicalisation of freedom of information though the social media.

According to Ajayi, ‘The economy has increased in volume with Nigeria becoming one of the largest economies in Africa. We have seen more roads and bridges, new towns and settlements have emerged while the dynamics and sociology of human relationship has been remarkably transformed beyond measure. The labour market has been expanded while international trade has shown noticeable diversity.”

Between 1999 and now, Nigeria has grown further in population, more and more people are being born daily, while the consequent economic and social strain are expected.

Inspite of the gains, he said, Nigeria also faces daunting challenge, with unemployment rate in the range of 5 per cent and more people are having lesser opportunities to the essentials of life.

“Corruption remains a major obstacle to human development. When we talk about corruption, it is not just about the government officials. We are also talking about corruption in the informal sector or what I call domestic corruption, among traders, mechanics, bricklayers, tillers, carpenters, iron-benders, owners of pharmaceutical companies and also corruption by corporate organisations that ceaselessly exploit the helpless masses. One of the major problems confronting Nigeria is insecurity.

“We are faced with a twin problem of underdevelopment occasioned by growing insecurity across the land. There is no doubt that efforts have been made in the recent past to address this hydra headed problem, but the challenge lingers. People are killed in the most gruesome manner, in tens and in hundreds.

In the midst of these difficult challenges, hope is not lost. The civil society will continue to put Nigerian leaders on their toes by showing their faultlines, their strength and their opportunities.” he said.

“Today, the Nigerian Human Rights Community, (NHRC) has taken the right step to recognise a very few individuals that we think have rekindled the dimming hope of Nigerians. These awards for them are not from multinational companies,or from rich caucuses,  but from community based groups, civil society organisations showing their support for these few individuals and the institutions they represent in order to encourage them and ensure that they do more to lift up Nigeria to greater honour and glory.

“We also look forward to more practical engagement between the civil society organisations, artisans, the community based groups across the country and these strategic institutions in our collective drive for a better and prosperous Nigeria.” he added.