Mkpoikana Udoma
Abuja — In a bold move to end decades of gas flaring and reposition Nigeria as an investment magnet in the energy transition era, the Federal Government has declared a zero-tolerance policy for non-compliance with gas flare commercialisation regulations, warning that defaulting producers will face stiff sanctions.
Delivering a keynote at the NOG Energy Week 2025, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, revealed that the country is enforcing its gas-centric energy transition with commercial urgency and regulatory teeth.
He said, “Let it be clear: the Commission will not tolerate any producer that undermines this national climate-action programme. Regulatory action has been taken against non-compliant producers who failed to execute agreements after several engagements.”
At the centre of Nigeria’s decarbonisation and monetisation strategy is the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme, NGFCP, a market-based initiative designed to allocate flared gas to competent third-party investors. The goal: eliminate flaring by 2030 and reduce methane emissions by 60% by 2031.
Komolafe noted, “Nigeria is not on the sidelines of the energy future; we are shaping it. With visionary leadership, bold reform, smart regulation, and a clear net-zero path, we are offering the world a model of what pragmatic, equitable, and resilient transition looks like.”
Highlighting the scale of recent progress, Komolafe announced that Nigeria’s oil production has risen to 1.7 million barrels per day, with the ambitious goal of hitting 2.5 million bpd by 2026 through the Project One Million Barrels Per Day Initiative. He attributed the growth to aggressive rig deployment, asset reactivation, and executive orders (40 on fiscal incentives, 41 on local content, and 42 on cost efficiency).
“Through streamlined approvals, enhanced recovery techniques, and production optimization, Nigeria is becoming more globally competitive,” Komolafe said.
He added that 37 new evacuation routes have been approved to ease crude transportation, while the Advance Cargo Declaration System is boosting export transparency.
The NUPRC boss emphasized that Nigeria’s gas-centric transition is more than climate rhetoric, it’s an investment play.
“We are building LNG capacity, deploying floating infrastructure, and leading cross-border pipeline development to fuel not only our own economy, but Africa’s industrial renaissance,” he said.
Backed by the Decade of Gas Initiative, Presidential CNG Programme, and Upstream Decarbonisation Framework, Nigeria is developing a full ecosystem that turns emissions reduction into new revenue streams.
“We are enabling emissions reductions to become revenue streams through a new carbon services ecosystem, monitoring, consulting, tech deployment, while maintaining environmental and asset integrity,” Komolafe explained.
He assured investors that Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which contributes 90% of foreign exchange earnings and 70% of national revenue, is on a path of sustainable growth and strategic integration.
“The foundation has been laid. Let us turn our vast energy potential into enduring performance.”
