We’re Committed To Eradicating Corruption Within Upstream Petroleum Sector -Engr. Komolafe
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Commission Chief Executive,Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe has reaffirmed the commission’s unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption within the nation’s upstream petroleum sector.
Engr. Komolafe reaffirmed this commitment at an event organised on Monday, December 9, 2024 in Abuja, to commemorate this year’s International Anti-corruption Day.
He said: “Corruption is not an abstract issue; it is a clear and present danger to our nation’s growth andprosperity. It deprives citizens of essential services, discourages investments, and erodes trust in public institutions.
“In the oil and gas sector, where the stakes are high and revenues substantial, corruption can have devastating effects on national development, community welfare, and environmental sustainability. Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector is a cornerstone of our economy.
“As custodians of this critical industry, we at the NUPRC recognize that corruption in any form undermines the sector’s integrity and diminishes the resources available for national progress.
“The NUPRC stands at the forefront of the nation’s efforts to ensure that our hydrocarbon resources are managed with transparency, accountability, and efficiency. As the Commission Chief Executive, I affirm our unwavering commitment to eradicating corruption within the upstream petroleum sector,” he said.
The NUPRC boss said that the commitment aligns seamlessly with the principles of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 (PIA),which emphasizes good governance, transparency, and the equitable distribution of benefits from oil and gas operations.
He said over the past years, the Commission has achieved significant milestones in the fight against corruption through various initiative and programs including: the implementation of the Oil and Gas Industry Service Permit (OGISP) portal, to reduce human interaction in NUPRC’s permit processes and consequently the incidence of bribery and inefficiencies, the award of petroleum licenses and leases is through an open competitive bid process; and the recently launched HostComply platform, to enhance the administration of the Host Communities Development Trusts (HCDTs).
Engr. Komolafe said keying into the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission’s(ICPC) vision that Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) must first address corruption within their organizations to combat corruption in Nigeria effectively, the NUPRC established its maiden Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit, with its separate and dedicated budgetary line for its effective operation.
He disclosed that since its establishment, the NUPRC ACTU has also played its role in establishing the NUPRC ethical norms that depict the values of the NUPRC and the wider society.
The CCE highlighted some of the key activities of the NUPRC ACTU to include: Creating awareness within NUPRC’s staff of NUPRC’s zero-tolerance for corruption by educating members of the ACTU and staff of the NUPRC through training, publications and banners; System study and reviews of NUPRC’s major regulatory activities such as the recently concluded Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme; and Encouraging whistle blowing among the Commission’s staff and stakeholders by establishing whistle blowing channels such as complaint boxes and secure email.
According to him, “These efforts, are already yielding results, as we see greater investor confidence and improved revenue inflows to the Federation Account.
However, he said this battle is not one the NUPRC could fight and win alone, adding that it requires the active participation of all stakeholders.
“Government Agencies must ensure strict enforcement of Anti-Corruption laws, Industry Operators must uphold ethical practices in their operations, Civil society must remain vigilant, holding us accountable and every citizen must embrace integrity as a personal creed, refusing to condone or participate in corrupt practices,” Komolafe added.
He revealed that to commemorate the Anti-Corruption Day and encourage staff who have consistently distinguished themselves in integrity, diligence, honesty, accountability, punctuality and other related qualities, ACTU – NUPRC in collaboration with ICPC would give integrity award to three (3) most deserving NUPRC staff.
