Oritsegbubemi Omatseyin
Lagos — The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, ICPC, have pledged to intensify their efforts towards enhancing transparency in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon sector. This formed highlights of discussion during the visit of the ICPC’s management to NUPRC’s Headquarters in Jabi Abuja.
The visit aimed to solidify the relationship between the two agencies as they work together to uphold Nigeria’s commitment to integrity and excellence in managing its national hydrocarbon resources.
During the visit, the Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, commended the ICPC for its pivotal role since its inception in 2000. He praised the agency for its relentless efforts in investigating and prosecuting corrupt practices across various sectors, safeguarding public resources and promoting ethical conduct throughout Nigeria.
Engr. Komolafe highlighted the crucial role NUPRC plays in regulating and supervising Nigeria’s Upstream Petroleum sector and emphasized the Commission ’s focus on promoting transparency, efficiency, and sustainability through a robust regulatory framework and strategic initiatives.
According to Komolafe, the Commission’s efforts have facilitated investment, enhanced operational standards and maximised the socioeconomic benefits derived from Nigeria’s common wealth.
He noted that combating corruption requires a multifaceted approach, to which the commission is deeply committed, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and has implemented several initiatives to promote accountability and good governance.
Notably, the award of Petroleum licenses through open competitive bids has enhanced transparency and eliminated partiality and favouritism. This transparent approach instils confidence in investors and stakeholders, fostering a corruption-free environment in Nigeria’s Oil and Gas sector.
Additionally, the establishment of the Beneficial Ownership Register, as mandated by the PIA, aims to provide valuable insights into the ownership structures of entities operating within the Upstream Petroleum sector, thereby promoting accountability and preventing illicit financial flows.
The commission is also in the process of gazetting a code of conduct for operators in the sector to ensure adherence to ethical practices, with penalties for non-compliance. The NUPRC has also taken steps to reduce human interference in its permit processes, successfully decreasing incidents of bribery by 70% through digitising permits and licensing processes. The implementation of the Oil and Gas Industry Service Permit Portal allows for transparent and expeditious processing of permits.
Furthermore, the Commission recently launched the Host Comply platform to enhance the administration of the Host Communities Development Trust. This initiative ensures that host communities benefit directly from petroleum operations and simplifies the administration, reporting, monitoring and management of development trust activities.
In February 2024, the Commission inaugurated an anti-corruption unit to ensure that its operations are conducted with integrity and in compliance with regulatory standards.
ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Aliyu, expressed gratitude to the NUPRC for their collaboration and the establishment of a special investigation unit within the commission. He commended NUPRC’s efforts towards transparency and efficiency, particularly highlighting initiatives such as the metering system and Host Comply.
Dr. Aliyu assured NUPRC of ICPC’s unwavering support in the fight against corruption and urged staff to support leaders with integrity to enhance Nigeria’s global image.
Both agencies acknowledged the importance of collaboration in combating corruption and signed a Memorandum of Understanding, MOU, to formalise their partnership.
This agreement marks a significant step towards strengthening the bond between NUPRC and ICPC in their shared mission to uphold transparency, integrity and excellence in Nigeria’s hydrocarbon management.
