NUPRC Will Not Relent Until NGFCP is Fully Implemented – Komolafe

The Commission Chief Executive (CCE) of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, has reaffirmed the Commission’s unwavering commitment to the full implementation of the Nigerian Gas Flare Commercialisation Programme (NGFCP), warning that producers and awardees who frustrate the government’s climate action agenda will face sanctions.

Delivering a keynote address at the 24th Nigerian Oil and Gas (NOG) Energy Week Conference and Exhibition in Abuja, Komolafe declared that the era of non-compliance and delays is over. He stressed that the Commission has already taken regulatory action against producers who failed to execute agreements under the NGFCP despite multiple engagements.

“Let it be clear: the Commission will not tolerate any producer that undermines this national climate-action programme, nor will it allow unwilling awardees to set us back. Accordingly, we have taken regulatory action against non-compliant producers who failed to execute agreements after several engagements. Our resolve remains firm; we will not relent until the NGFCP is fully and successfully implemented,” Komolafe stated.

According to him, the Commission worked closely with operators over the past year to remove obstacles and foster partnerships under the NGFCP, which is central to Nigeria’s gas-centric energy transition strategy and the national commitment to eliminate routine gas flaring by 2030.

Komolafe expressed optimism that by the next NOG event, Nigeria would be showcasing operational flare-capture projects—tangible evidence of the country’s commitment to national and global climate objectives.

In outlining the Commission’s broader energy transformation agenda, Komolafe highlighted key initiatives such as Project One Million Barrels, which aims to increase oil production to 2.5 million barrels per day by 2026. As of June 2025, he noted, production has already reached 1.7 million bpd.

He also cited the impact of the 2024 Executive Orders on fiscal incentives, local content, and cost efficiency, which have attracted over $16 billion in investments within two years.

Beyond increasing production, Komolafe emphasized that NUPRC is focused on building resilience and sustainability in the upstream sector. This includes digitalisation, regulatory efficiency, host community engagement, and decarbonisation.

To support Nigeria’s energy transition, the Commission has launched the Upstream Decarbonisation Framework and established March 18 as Nigeria’s Upstream Decarbonisation Day—an annual platform for tracking emissions progress and sharing innovative solutions.

“We are enabling emissions reductions to become revenue streams through a new ecosystem of carbon services—including monitoring, consulting, and tech deployment—while maintaining high environmental and asset integrity,” Komolafe added.

Regionally, the CCE noted that NUPRC is spearheading efforts to integrate Africa’s energy markets through the African Petroleum Regulators Forum (AFRIPERF). The Commission is also collaborating with the Africa Energy Bank to ensure that transition capital is channeled to the right projects across the continent.

“Through AFRIPERF, we are driving regulatory convergence, cross-border financing, and infrastructure interoperability. Our collaboration with the Africa Energy Bank ensures that transition capital reaches the right projects, for the right reasons, across the continent,” he said.

Reiterating the Commission’s strategic priorities, Komolafe affirmed that NUPRC will continue to:

• Sustain transparent licensing rounds,

• Accelerate frontier basin exploration,

• Reactivate shut-in assets,

• Ensure reliable feedstock supply to local refineries, and

• Drive decarbonisation through a seven-pillar emissions strategy and carbon market participation.