A recent report by the Renewed Hope Ambassadors Network (RHAN) has highlighted the significant strides made by the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) in transforming the country’s oil and gas sector.
The report assesses the impact of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and the efforts of NUPRC, which is led by Engr. Gbenga Komolafe.
The report notes that Komolafe’s leadership has made significant strides in restoring the lost glory of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
In the report signed by its secretary general, Fabian Opialu, the group said the commission has embraced digitalisation, ensuring real-time monitoring of oil production and compliance, which has helped curb crude oil theft and improved accuracy in production reporting.
Furthermore, the report also said the NUPRC had strengthened engagement with host communities, ensuring benefits from oil production reach local populations and has facilitated open dialogue and cooperation between government agencies, international investors, and host communities.
Despite these achievements, challenges persist, including oil theft, regulatory bottlenecks, and security threats.
To overcome these challenges, the report recommends that the NUPRC continue to enhance transparency and digitalisation and strengthen security measures by implementing cutting-edge surveillance technologies to address oil theft and pipeline damage.
The report also urged the commission to maintain improved stakeholder engagement and ensure continuous dialogue with host communities, international investors, and oil-producing firms.
“Undoubtedly, Nigeria’s oil and gas sector has undergone a dramatic transformation since the Petroleum Industrial Act (PIA) was passed,” the report said.
“It has contributed to the establishment of a well-organised regulatory environment with the goal of improving investment opportunities, efficiency, and transparency.
“In addition to ensuring that regulatory oversight is reinforced to support sustainable growth in the upstream petroleum sector, the establishment of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been crucial in advancing these reforms.
“However, with Engineer Gbenga Komolafe’s strategic foresight in increasing operational efficiency in NUPRC, it can be conclusively said that better than before, an atmosphere favourable to investment and economic expansion now exists.
“Despite putting policies like security enhancement, digitisation, stakeholder engagement, and revenue optimisation in place, challenges such as bureaucratic hurdles, host community concerns, and oil theft, though now at minimal, remain issues that require continuous attention and strategic interventions.
“We are convinced that with consistent implementation of reforms and a commitment to global best practices, the PIA and the efforts of the NUPRC will continue to shape Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, ensuring it remains a vital contributor to national economic development,” the report reads.
