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  • Chevron to participate in NUPRC 2025 licensing round

    Chevron to participate in NUPRC 2025 licensing round

    Chevron Nigeria has hailed the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as a business enabler and has expressed its intention to participate in the 2025 licensing round.

    The Chairman and Managing Director of Chevron Nigeria/Mid-Africa Business Unit, Jim Swartz, gave the commendation when he visited the NUPRC’s corporate headquarters in Abuja on December 4, 2025.

    NUPRC’s Head, Media and Strategic Communication, Mr. Eniola Akinkuotu, who made this known in a press statement, quoted Swartz as saying, “We will participate in the next licensing round. Our intention is to continue to grow in Nigeria.” 

    The Chevron boss hailed the Commission Chief Executive, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, for his visionary leadership and for ensuring that the Petroleum Industry Act is enforced to the letter.

    “My assessment is that you have continued to support us. You have shown that Nigeria is a leader in this sector. Chevron specifically appreciates the enforcement of the willing buyer, willing seller provision. I am also happy about your position on decommissioning and abandonment which came up at the National Assembly recently,” he said.

    Mr. Swartz described the passage of the Petroleum Industry Act as a watershed moment in Nigeria’s economic history.

    He said the PIA – coupled with the style of the NUPRC’s enforcement – had restored predictability and made Nigeria an investment destination once more.

    “The NUPRC listens. The NUPRC supports business. As a regulator, the NUPRC is transparent,” he stated.

    Read Also: Chevron host communities’ workers seek intervention on welfare

    Mr. Swartz added that Chevron has recorded zero incidents of sabotage in the last one year.

     “Chevron has not recorded any oil theft or attacks on our pipelines this year. This is the longest we’ve gone without oil theft,” Mr. Swartz said.

    Mr. Swartz revealed that TotalEnergies Nigeria had signed a farm-out agreement with Chevron for a 40% stake in the PPL 2000 and PPL 2001 offshore exploration licences in Nigeria.

    He said Chevron was looking to the NUPRC for a swift approval as it sought to develop the assets quickly.

    The Chevron boss also disclosed some of the company’s goals for 2026 including plan’s to bring in a drilling rig in late 2026 on a newly discovered resource near Egbami as well as an extension of the lease of some assets which it is already developing.

    In his remarks, the NUPRC helmsman, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, said Chevron’s decision to take part in the 2025 licensing round was evidence that Nigeria remained a key investment destination.

    Komolafe called on other oil companies to emulate Chevron by coming out to share their testimonies as this would encourage potential investors.

    He said although the 2024 licensing round was described as the most transparent in Nigeria’s history, the NUPRC was working to taking up a notch.

    The NUPRC said, “We are committed to delivering a transparent licensing round which will even be better than that of 2024. It will be transparent and digital. Our portal has gone live and we have 50 fields on offer.”

    Komolafe also expressed delight over Chevron’s testimony that it had recorded zero incidents of oil theft in the last 12 months.

    He said this was a reflection of an improved business environment provided by the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu-led Federal Government and security agencies.

    The NUPRC boss therefore called on investors to take advantage of Nigeria’s positive fiscal and regulatory environment.  

  • NUPRC chief exec emerges African petroleum regulators chair

    NUPRC chief exec emerges African petroleum regulators chair

    The African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) has unanimously adopted Nigeria as its official headquarters. The body also elected the Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, an engineer, as chairman of the Forum.

    Prior to the endorsement, Komolafe was interim chairman of AFRIPERF.

     Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan also emerged as secretary of AFRIPERF.

    The decision was announced at the inaugural executive committee meeting of the Forum which was held virtually yesterday.

    The development affirms Nigeria’s central role in the African petroleum regulatory space and as Africa’s largest producer of crude oil.

    The meeting which was attended by 16 African countries was convened to pick its leadership, headquarters and logo.

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    In his opening remarks Komolafe said: “We are laying the foundation for a more harmonized and collaborative regulatory environment across Africa. A strong Executive Committee will help drive initiatives that promote investment, streamline regulations and support Africa’s strategic positioning in an evolving global energy space”

    Out of the 16 countries that attended, eight have so far ratified the treaty to become full-fledged members of the Forum who have voting rights.

    In his acceptance speech, Komolafe thanked his African counterparts for the trust and honour, promising to ensure that no member country is left behind.

    AFRIPERF aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators.

    Its objectives include: Harmonising petroleum regulations and standards, enhancing regulatory capacity through training, promoting dialogue with industry stakeholders and international organisations and addressing regional challenges.

    Additionally, the Forum seeks to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote cross-border energy infrastructure development and present a virile strong unified voice for Africa in global hydrocarbon discourse, encourage technology transfer, and promote best practices.

    It advocates for member interests on international platforms and leverages the collective strengths of regulators to secure sustainable energy resources for development, promote investment in African petroleum exploration, ensure transparency and sound regulation, and advance ethical practices in petroleum exploitation.

  • AFRIPERF adopts Nigeria as headquarters, elects Komolafe chairman

    AFRIPERF adopts Nigeria as headquarters, elects Komolafe chairman

    The African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF) has unanimously adopted Nigeria as its official headquarters.

    The body also elected the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, an engineer, as chairman of the Forum. 

    Prior to the endorsement, Komolafe was interim chairman of AFRIPERF.

    Eyoanwan Ndiyo-Aiyetan also emerged as secretary of AFRIPERF.

    The decision was announced at the inaugural executive committee meeting of the Forum which held virtually.

    The development affirms Nigeria’s central role in the African petroleum regulatory space and as Africa’s largest producer of crude oil.

    The meeting which was attended by 16 African countries, was convened to pick its leadership, headquarters and logo.

    In his opening remarks Komolafe said, “We are laying the foundation for a more harmonized and collaborative regulatory environment across Africa. A strong Executive Committee will help drive initiatives that promote investment, streamline regulations and support Africa’s strategic positioning in an evolving global energy space” 

    Out of the 16 countries that attended, eight have so far ratified the treaty to become full-fledged members of the Forum who have voting rights.

    In his acceptance speech, Komolafe thanked his African counterparts for the trust and honour, promising to ensure that no member country is left behind.

    AFRIPERF aims to strengthen regional petroleum governance by fostering collaboration, cooperation and coordination among member regulators.

    Its objectives include: Harmonising petroleum regulations and standards, enhancing regulatory capacity through training, promoting dialogue with industry stakeholders and international organisations and addressing regional challenges.

    Additionally, the Forum seeks to facilitate knowledge sharing, promote cross-border energy infrastructure development and present a virile strong unified voice for Africa in global hydrocarbon discourse, encourage technology transfer, and promote best practices. 

    It advocates for member interests on international platforms and leverages the collective strengths of regulators to secure sustainable energy resources for development, promote investment in African petroleum exploration, ensure transparency and sound regulation, and advance ethical practices in petroleum exploitation.

  • Experts hail Komolafe as NUPRC revenue hits N8.79trn in 10 months

    Experts hail Komolafe as NUPRC revenue hits N8.79trn in 10 months

    Three prominent policy analysts and energy-sector experts have praised the leadership of Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), following new records showing the commission generated N8.79 trillion to the Federation Account between January and October 2025.

    FAAC records from the November 2025 meeting revealed that NUPRC remitted N873.10 billion in October alone, a 17.67 per cent rise from September’s N741.99 billion, following stronger royalty enforcement, enhanced data reconciliation and improved monitoring of upstream operations. 

    The documents also showed over N1.02 trillion in NNPC Joint Venture and Production Sharing Contract royalty receivables, as well as N835.69 billion from Project Gazelle. 

    The commission additionally confirmed that, after presidential approval to “nil off” inherited NNPC arrears as of 31 December 2024, it cleared $1.42 billion and N5.57 trillion in legacy obligations.

    Despite these gains, October’s collections amounted to 72.47 per cent of the N1.204 trillion monthly budget, reflecting the ongoing effects of low output, infrastructure constraints, crude theft, and global price movements. 

    The commission also recorded strong performances across several revenue lines, including N807.08 billion in oil and gas royalties, a 65 per cent rise in rental income, and gas flare penalties surpassing budgeted targets at 105.52 per cent.

    Dr. Ifeanyi Okonkwo, public affairs analyst and former adviser at the National Assembly, said the latest revenue figures reflect a deliberate tightening of administrative and fiscal controls at the commission. 

    “What these numbers tell us is that the NUPRC under Komolafe has finally embraced the discipline that the upstream sector has lacked for years,” he said. 

    “There is now a clear commitment to transparency, monthly reconciliation and the closure of historical leakages. The fact that the commission is sustaining high remittances despite fluctuating production shows that the regulator is no longer timid or reactive. It is behaving like a regulator that understands the weight of its mandate and is determined to enforce it.”

    Energy economist, Dr. Hauwa Ibrahim, described the performance as a reassuring signal in a difficult year for the global oil market. 

    “The October numbers demonstrate that even within a constrained production environment, a disciplined regulatory framework can still deliver strong outcomes for the federation,” she said. 

    “What we are seeing is the early emergence of structural stability in the upstream sector, driven by firmer compliance systems and a more assertive regulatory posture. Yes, the figures still reflect the fragility of the sector, particularly in production volumes, but when a regulator provides clarity, consistency and predictable enforcement, the entire value chain becomes more resilient. That is the direction NUPRC is now moving toward.”

    Petroleum engineer, Mike Osamudiamen, said the commission’s handling of inherited NNPC indebtedness marks one of the most consequential interventions in the industry this year. 

    “For decades, Nigeria’s upstream fiscal environment has been muddied by unresolved obligations, disputed receivables and opaque accounting practices,” he said. 

    “By bringing long-delayed clarity to the books and writing off obligations that were legally extinguished, Komolafe has restored credibility to the federation’s financial records. This certainty is essential not just for government planning but for operators, investors and auditors who rely on accurate data. What is needed now is sustained vigilance, tighter monitoring of production volumes, accurate measurement systems and uncompromising royalty compliance, because that is how this momentum will be protected.”

    The experts concluded that the performance reflects a regulator that is increasingly assertive, disciplined and aligned with the vision of the Petroleum Industry Act, with Komolafe’s leadership playing a central role in the turnaround.

  • GETI hails NUPRC, Komolafe for setting global benchmark in NUPRC’s $10bn licensing round

    GETI hails NUPRC, Komolafe for setting global benchmark in NUPRC’s $10bn licensing round

    A UK-based energy watchdog, the Global Energy Transparency Initiative (GETI), has applauded the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and its Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, for introducing world-class transparency standards and investor-friendly reforms in the launch of the 2025 Licensing Round Portal.

    In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Dr. Jonathan Whitfield, GETI described the unveiling of the licensing round, featuring 50 oil and gas blocks across onshore, swamp/shallow water, frontier basins, and deepwater terrain, as a landmark step that aligns Nigeria’s upstream governance with international best practices.

    The commendation comes after Monday’s announcement that the NUPRC portal, br2025.nuprc.gov.ng, has gone live, with the Commission projecting $10 billion in new investments and an additional two billion barrels to Nigeria’s reserves over the next decade.

    GETI also lauded the full digitisation of the licensing process, noting that the public disclosure of bidding procedures and detailed breakdown of available blocks, 15 onshore, 19 shallow water, 15 frontier, and one deepwater, represents one of the most ambitious transparency measures implemented by any African upstream regulator in recent years.

    “Under Engr. Komolafe’s leadership, Nigeria has demonstrated that regulatory openness, clarity, and accountability are not optional but essential to attracting credible investors,” Dr. Whitfield said. 

    “From prequalification and bid submission to evaluation and award, every stage is now transparent, reducing discretion and the opacity that has historically undermined confidence in the sector.”

    GETI also highlighted the licensing round’s projected production potential of 400,000 barrels per day and the emphasis on gas utilisation and job creation, describing it as a “holistic approach to energy governance that balances revenue, competitiveness, and social impact.”

    Read Also: NUPRC targets $10 billion from oil licensing bid round

    “The 2025 Licensing Round is a template for Africa. It demonstrates that transparency and fairness in upstream licensing are key drivers of investment, trust, and long-term sectoral stability,” he added.

    The UK-based think tank urged NUPRC to maintain consistent implementation of the licensing process, including publication of contracts, fiscal terms, and beneficial ownership information, to ensure that transparency extends beyond the bidding stage.

    “The message is clear: strong governance is a competitive advantage. Nigeria is showing that with the right leadership, regulatory credibility can coexist with rapid investment growth,” the statement added.

    GETI’s endorsement positions NUPRC’s 2025 Licensing Round as a benchmark for the African upstream sector, underscoring the importance of investor confidence, digitalisation, and international alignment in modern oil and gas regulation.

  • NUPRC targets $10 billion from oil licensing bid round

    NUPRC targets $10 billion from oil licensing bid round

    The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) yesterday said it is expecting to rake in $10 billion from the 2025 licensing bid round.

    Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe broke the news during the 2025 Licensing round portal launch in Abuja.

    The bid exercise is scheduled to last for six months, with effect from yesterday December 1, 2025.

    He said the exercise is billed to increase the country’s crude oil production to 2 billion barrels over the next 10 years when the blocks are fully operational.

    He said: “The Nigeria 2025 licensing round is therefore expected to attract about $10 billion in investment and add up to 2 billion barrels of oil output over the next 10 years, with an estimated 400,000 barrels per day of production volumes when the blocks are fully operational.”

    Komolafe revealed that the President Bola Tinubu approved the listing of 50 oil and gas blocks across offshore swamp and shallow waters and, of course, offshore terrains spanning diverse terrains.

    Read Also: ‘Reliance on foreign model stunts growth’

    He said of the 50 blocks, 15 are onshore assets, shallow water 19, frontier 15 and one deep water asset.

    According to him, the key objectives of the Nigeria 2025 licensing round are first, to grow oil and gas reserves through aggressive exploration and development efforts, like an earlier reiterated.

    He added that it is intended to increase Nigeria’s production capacity and government revenue.

    Komolafe also said it is to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, from technical oilfields roles to supporting services, logistics supply chain, infrastructure, local content and local content, especially in regions where blocks are located. Expand opportunities for gas utilization and development in Nigeria in the field of energy transition.

    He said the Commission understands that in today’s volatile global energy landscape, certainty and predictability have become the true currencies of investment.

    The NUPRC, according to him, has therefore moved to de-risk exploration.

    He said through extensive multi-client surveys, the Commission has reprocessed thousands of kilometers of 2D and 3D seismic data, producing sharper, high-resolution images of our petroleum systems and reducing the uncertainties that once ended exploration decisions.

    For prospective investors, Komolafe said this means entering a market where uncertainty is shrinking and where opportunity is backed by the richest, high-quality subsurface data available anywhere in Africa.

    He added that this wealth of high-quality geophysical datasets means lower exploration risk, improved probability of discovery, faster appraisal timelines, reduced entry costs and accelerated journey from licensing to first oil and gas.

    Announcing the launch of the portal, he said: “Consolidating on the achievements of the 2024 licensing round, the Nigeria Offshore Petroleum Regulatory Commission is proud to formally announce the commencement of the Nigeria 2025 licensing round and the launch of the licensing round online portal br2025.nuprc.gov.ng.

    “This announcement is in line with the provisions of Section 73 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which prescribes a fair, transparent and competitive bidding process.”

  • NUPRC eyes $10b from 2025 licensing bid

    NUPRC eyes $10b from 2025 licensing bid

    The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) on Monday said it is expecting to rake in $10 billion from the 2025 licensing bid round.

    Commission’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe broke the news during the 2025 Licensing round portal launch in Abuja.

    The bid exercise is scheduled to last for six months, with effect from today 1st December, 2025.

    He said the exercise is billed to increase the country’s crude oil production to 2 billion barrels over the next 10 years when the blocks are fully operational.

    His words: “The Nigeria 2025 licensing round is therefore expected to attract about $10 billion in investment and add up to 2 billion barrels of oil output over the next 10 years, with an estimated 400,000 barrels per day of production volumes when the blocks are fully operational.”

    Komolafe revealed that the President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved the listing of 50 oil and gas blocks across offshore swamp and shallow waters and, of course, offshore terrains spanning diverse terrains. 

    He said of the 50 blocks, 15 are onshore assets, shallow water 19, frontier 15 and one deep water asset. 

    According to him, the key objectives of the Nigeria 2025 licensing round are first, to grow oil and gas reserves through aggressive exploration and development efforts, like an earlier reiterated.

    He added that it is intended to increase Nigeria’s production capacity and government revenue. 

    Komolafe also said it is to create thousands of direct and indirect jobs, from technical oilfields roles to supporting services, logistics supply chain, infrastructure, local content and local content, especially in regions where blocks are located. Expand opportunities for gas utilization and development in Nigeria in the field of energy transition.

    He said the Commission understands that in today’s volatile global energy landscape, certainty and predictability have become the true currencies of investment. 

    The NUPRC, according to him, has therefore moved to de-risk exploration. 

    Read Also: NUPRC: Setting the record straight

    He said through extensive multi-client surveys, the Commission has reprocessed thousands of kilometers of 2D and 3D seismic data, producing sharper, high-resolution images of our petroleum systems and reducing the uncertainties that once ended exploration decisions.

    For prospective investors, Komolafe said, this means entering a market where uncertainty is shrinking and where opportunity is backed by the richest, high-quality subsurface data available anywhere in Africa. 

    He added that this wealth of high-quality geophysical datasets means lower exploration risk, improved probability of discovery, faster appraisal timelines, reduced entry costs and accelerated journey from licensing to first oil and gas. 

    Announcing the launch of the portal, he said “Consolidating on the achievements of the 2024 licensing round, the Nigeria Offshore Petroleum Regulatory Commission is proud to formally announce the commencement of the Nigeria 2025 licensing round and the launch of the licensing round online portal br2025.nuprc.gov.ng.

    “This announcement is in line with the provisions of Section 73 of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which prescribes a fair, transparent and competitive bidding process.”

  • NUPRC: Setting the record straight

    NUPRC: Setting the record straight

    By Lawal Itodo

    Who is unaware of the extraordinary, unassailable achievements of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the superlative performance it has delivered over the past two years alone? We are talking about an unbroken string of signature successes and unrivalled pace-setting milestones that crystallised in 2024 as an absolute blockbuster year for the Commission—soaring revenues, massive production increases, and a ferocious investment drive powered by systematic transparency, aggressive containment of oil theft, and the near-elimination of routine gas flaring.

     Production has climbed from 1.46 million barrels per day in October 2024 to 1.78 million barrels per day in 2025, with the ambitious Project 1 million barrels per day now firmly on track to deliver an additional full million barrels daily above the baseline.

     Unfortunately, rather than celebrating the achievements of the NUPRC, some people who are expected to know better, out of mischief, have chosen to rubbish the body. 

     Truth is sacred, but when a man descends so low as to turn truth on its head, then there is a problem.

    With his training and education, Toyin Akinosho, a geologist by training, who later turned writer and publisher, is expected to know better when it comes to the issue of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission;  unfortunately, his recent piece has negated that.

     His resolve to distort an article lifted from the website of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) so he could pad out and sell copies of his magazine, The African Oil and Gas Report, is a bit worrisome.

    Rather than publishing the fact, out of mischief or otherwise, he ended up publishing a month-old gossip in  Festac News and Community Tabloid.

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     Is he somehow unaware of the explosive rig-count surge from a pathetic eight active rigs in 2021 to thirty-six today—and heading toward seventy, with more than forty already drilling—putting the Commission comfortably on course to hit its fifty-rig target by the end of 2025?

     Does he pretend not to have noticed the revolutionary data and transparency reforms, the upgraded National Data Repository (NDR) now enriched with 11,000 square kilometres of fresh 3D seismic data (part of the monumental 56,000 sq km Awalé Project) plus information from more than 10,000 wells? Or the forthcoming licensing round launching on 1 December 2025, universally praised in advance for being fully digitalised and transparently run? Or the staggering 2024 revenue haul of ₦12.25 trillion—an eye-watering 182% leap over 2023 and a full ₦5 trillion above projection—publicly celebrated by the prestigious Energy Governance Alliance for single-handedly restoring regulatory credibility to Nigeria’s upstream sector?

     Do I really need to jog his memory about the masterstroke regulatory reforms anchored on the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021—reforms that have delivered crystal-clear fiscal terms, investor-friendly processes, and a suite of gazetted regulations on gas flaring, royalties, and production curtailment that industry stakeholders have openly applauded?

     While people like Toyin Akinosho rush to publish half-baked, poorly researched jobs, the rest of the world has moved on, showering praise on the NUPRC and restoring rock-solid investor confidence through landmark partnerships with TGS-PetroData, multi-client seismic campaigns, a $20 billion field development pipeline, and much more.

     Yes, challenges remain—legacy infrastructural bottlenecks, the enforcement of gas-flaring penalties (₦391 billion collected against a ₦126 billion target), occasional murmurs about data-release timelines—but the Commission is surmounting every single one at speed and repositioning Nigeria as the undisputed data-rich, investment-ready powerhouse not just of Africa’s upstream sector but of the entire global industry. The numbers speak for themselves: deliberate, progressive, and impossible to argue with.

     In 2024 alone, revenue hit ₦12.25 trillion—up 182% from ₦4.34 trillion in 2023 and ₦5 trillion above the projected ₦6.93 trillion. The same year delivered an 84.2% year-on-year growth rate—the highest in three years. Crude output averaged 1.65 million barrels per day and continues climbing, propelled by the Project 1 Million Barrels per Day initiative that is targeting 2.5 million barrels per day by 2027.

  • NUPRC’s decarbonization requirement for upstream project thrills IAE

    NUPRC’s decarbonization requirement for upstream project thrills IAE

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) has commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for embedding decarbonization requirements into upstream project approvals.

    The commendation was when NUPRC hosted a high-level delegation from the International Energy Agency (IEA) at its Headquarters in Jabi, Abuja, during a courtesy visit aimed at strengthening strategic collaboration on data integrity, energy transition, investment climate, and upstream sector governance.

    The delegation was received by the Commission Chief Executive (CCE), Gbenga Komolafe, who reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to transparent regulation, investor confidence, and sustainable development in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.

    This was made known in a press statement issued by NUPRC, Head of Media and Strategic Communication, Mr. Eniola Akinkuotu issued yesterday.

    According to the statement, Komolafe noted that the PIA has created a predictable, rule-based fiscal and governance framework that continues to inspire renewed investor confidence. 

    He highlighted that the Commission has, within four years, developed and gazetted seventeen regulatory instruments in close consultation with industry stakeholders enhancing clarity, reducing discretion, and promoting an enabling environment for capital inflow.

    “The PIA provides a transparent, commercially-viable, and investor-friendly regulatory foundation. Our commitment is to sustain regulatory certainty, deepen stakeholder confidence, and align Nigeria’s upstream sector with global best practices,” the CCE stated.

    In her remarks, the IEA Africa Programme Manager, Rita Maderia, commended NUPRC for embedding decarbonization requirements into upstream project approvals, noting that the Commission’s policy of integrating green strategies into Field Development Plans (FDPs) aligns with global funding expectations for low-carbon projects.

    The IEA reiterated that Nigeria’s gas resources remain pivotal to closing Africa’s energy access deficit, where nearly 600 million people lack electricity. 

    The Agency emphasized that even if Africa fully develops its identified gas reserves, global emissions would rise by only 0.5%, underscoring the minimal climate impact and the continent’s right to energy development.

    The IEA also expressed readiness to:

    Provide Nigeria access to select market intelligence products such as the Monthly Oil Market Report.

    Host joint workshops on gas monetization and Africa’s energy transition.

    Expand technical-level data exchanges with NUPRC experts.

    Support Nigeria’s participation in high-level international energy forums.

    Engr. Komolafe highlighted the Commission’s efforts to safeguard the integrity and commercial value of upstream data. 

    He disclosed that the Commission is enhancing its digital data management systems.

    “Authoritative, professionally validated data remains essential for investor confidence and sector credibility. We are ensuring proper utilization, protection, and value optimization of Nigeria’s upstream data,” the CCE added.

    He emphasized that NUPRC will maintain an open-door policy to foster continuous engagement with the IEA and other development partners as Nigeria positions itself as a leader in Africa’s energy transition and upstream investment growth. 

  • Centre hails NUPRC, Komolafe for leading outstanding reforms in oil and gas sector

    Centre hails NUPRC, Komolafe for leading outstanding reforms in oil and gas sector

    The Centre for Energy Market Stability and Reforms (CEMSR) has praised the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for what it described as outstanding reforms that have restored confidence, improved governance and strengthened investment prospects in the nation’s oil and gas sector.

    In a statement issued on Wednesday, Dr. Musa Garuba, executive director of CEMSR, said the commission under Engr. Gbenga Komolafe has delivered some of the clearest gains seen in the upstream industry in recent years. 

    He noted that improved regulatory clarity, enhanced transparency and stronger field oversight have repositioned Nigeria as a more attractive upstream destination.

    Garuba said the commission has demonstrated what he called “effective and visionary leadership” by accelerating approvals, improving compliance frameworks and eliminating long-standing operational bottlenecks that previously discouraged investors.

    According to him, the upward movement in rig count, the rise in field development activities and renewed interest from global operators reflect the impact of the reforms.

    “The leadership of NUPRC has brought stability to a sector that was once defined by unpredictability. Investors are responding positively because they see a regulator that is firm, knowledgeable and committed to the long-term growth of the industry,” Garuba said. 

    The Centre noted that the commission’s work has produced significant operational improvements, including quicker decision-making, better monitoring of assets, and more reliable production data. 

    The group said these developments have been critical in restoring credibility to Nigeria’s upstream reporting system and encouraging capital inflows.

    Garuba added that the commission’s approach to licensing, particularly its emphasis on transparency and equal access, has rebuilt trust among domestic and international operators. 

    He said the forthcoming licensing round scheduled for December 2025 is expected to attract strong global participation because of the confidence NUPRC has cultivated.

    “The investment community watches closely, and what they are seeing is a regulator that is strengthening the rules, improving enforcement and communicating clearly. These reforms are already contributing to improved production performance and are laying the groundwork for meeting national output and reserves targets,” he said.

    The group also commended NUPRC for deepening the use of technology in regulatory operations, including digital reporting platforms and modern data management systems. It described these tools as essential for transparency, efficiency and global competitiveness.

    CEMSR urged state institutions, industry operators and partners to support the ongoing reforms so that the gains recorded in the past year are sustained. 

    The group said NUPRC’s leadership model demonstrates the role strong institutions can play in driving economic progress.

    “What the commission is doing is vital for the future of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. NUPRC under Engr. Komolafe has shown that with professionalism, discipline and a clear vision, our upstream industry can compete globally and deliver meaningful benefits to the country,” Garuba added.