The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has said that the significant reduction in paperwork and increased automation of its regulatory processes have reduced bureaucratic bottlenecks in its activities.
The Chief Executive of the NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, spoke when he welcomed a delegation from the Independent Petroleum Producers Group (IPPG) at the commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
The IPPG was led on the visit by its Chairman, Mr. Abdulrazaq Isa, who also serves as the Chairman of Waltersmith Group, an indigenous oil and gas company.
Komolafe reiterated the NUPRC’s dedication to creating an enabling business environment for operators in the industry.
“He outlined several key policies implemented since the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), including the automation of regulatory processes such as granting of licences and permits which has significantly reduced bureaucratic delays and improved operational efficiency across the sector,” Komolafe stated in a statement by the commission in Abuja.
Komolafe also discussed the implementation of the “drill or drop” policy whichrequires operators to either begin production within a specified timeframe or relinquish their licences. This policy aims to revitalise the oil sector, ensure optimal use of assets, and boost government revenue.
“The visit was a strategic engagement aimed at strengthening collaboration between the commission and indigenous producers. It also served as an opportunity for the IPPG to formally express its appreciation to the NUPRC for the critical role it played in facilitating the recent divestment of assets by international oil companies.
“These divestments, which were closely overseen by the commission, have enabled a significant transfer of upstream oil and gas assets to indigenous operators. This transition marks a pivotal shift in Nigeria’s energy landscape, creating new opportunities for local companies to scale up operations,” the statement added.
During the meeting, the IPPG reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the commission’s “Project One Million Barrels Incremental” initiative, a programmedesigned to boost Nigeria’s daily crude oil production.
The group emphasised its readiness to align with this national objective and highlighted its dual focus on both oil and gas development.
Also, Komolafe has presented the commission’s plans to reduce carbon emissions from Nigeria’s oil & gas sector while continuing to support energy security and economic growth at the 2025 Global Energy Show in Canada.
Represented by the Director, Energy Sustainability and Carbon Management of the NUPRC, Joseph Ogunsola, the NUPRC boss explained that Nigeria is working to balance the need for enhanced energy production with environmental responsibility.
He described the global energy transition not as a challenge but as an opportunity to build a future that balances energy, the economy, and the environment, adding that the objective of Nigeria’s decarbonisation agenda is to ‘future-proof’ the industry for enhanced global competitiveness in the years ahead.
Speaking on Nigeria’s Natural Gas as a bridge to an energy-secure future, Komolafedisclosed that Nigeria holds the largest natural gas reserves in Africa with 210.54 trillion cubic feet and a potential of up to 600 trillion cubic feet. He added that by 2030, natural gas is expected to represent more than 70 per cent of the country’s energy mix.
This he said is part of Nigeria’s Energy Transition Plan, which aims to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060 coupled with the government’s launch of the Nigerian Carbon Market Activation Policy, which has potential to generate $2.5 billion by 2030 through carbon trading and emission reduction efforts.
Besides, he noted that this has the full backing of President Bola Tinubu, who is calling for urgent climate action and aligning Nigeria’s policies, regulations, and investments to support the shift toward cleaner energy.
Meanwhile, the British High Commission in Abuja has reiterated its strong support for Nigeria’s energy transition during a visit by the First Secretary for Climate Diplomacy, Ms. Samantha Harrison, to the NUPRC.
During the meeting, Harrison emphasised the United Kingdom’s commitment to partnering with Nigeria on climate and energy initiatives. Discussions focused on opportunities for collaboration to reduce gas flaring, an essential component of Nigeria’s decarbonization strategy.
The visit, the commission said, highlights the UK’s ongoing dedication to supporting Nigeria’s sustainable energy goals and fostering climate-resilient development as a pathway to long-term economic growth.
In his remarks, the chief executive of the commission, Komolafe, reaffirmed NUPRC’s leadership role in driving decarbonisation within Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector.
Komolafe stated that the commission was implementing a dual strategy to address gas flaring: by decarbonising flare sites, and by converting flared gas into valuable economic assets. This approach, he said, not only mitigates environmental impact but also enhances national revenue generation.
“A key initiative in this effort is the Nigerian Gas Flare CommercialisationProgramme (NGFCP), which currently includes 49 identified flare sites. The programme is designed to harness previously wasted gas resources and channel them into productive use, contributing to both environmental sustainability and economic growth,” Komolafe stated.
He also acknowledged the support received from multilateral organisations such as the World Bank and Net Zero World and expressed optimism about future collaboration with the British High Commission to further enhance the commission’s decarbonisationefforts.
Emmanuel Addeh
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