NUPRC, PTDF restate commitment to ethical governance in hydrocarbon sector
The Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has reaffirmed its commitment to promoting ethical governance as the foundation for sustainable growth in Nigeria’s and Africa’s hydrocarbon industry.
Mr Gbenga Komolafe, Commission Chief Executive, NUPRC reaffirmed the commitment on Wednesday in Abuja at the 2025 International Conference on Hydrocarbon Science and Technology (ICHST) organised by the Petroleum Training Institute (PTI).
Komolafe was represented by Dr Kelechi Ofoegbu, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services and Administration, NUPRC
In a keynote address titled “Ethical Governance: The Bedrock of Africa’s Hydrocarbon Future,” he said that the prosperity of Africa’s energy sector depended on resource endowment and also the quality of governance driving its utilisation.
“When we speak about Africa’s hydrocarbon future, it is not merely about how many barrels of oil we can producandl
“It is fundamentally about whether we can govern these resources in ways that build trust, attract investment and safeguard the environment,” he said.
He said that ethical governance had enabled Nigeria to record progress in reducing gas flaring through its flare gas commercialisation initiative.
According to him, the initiative is aimed at achieving total flare-out by 2030.
He said the initiative had transformed the image of the Niger Delta from one characterised by wasteful flaring to one of renewed opportunity and economic empowerment.
He also cited the Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, as an example of governance reforms delivering tangible benefits to oil-producing communities.
“In villages that once knew only resentment, schools are now under construction, clinics are opening and roads are being built.
These are not acts of charity, but legal entitlements guaranteed by governance,” he said.
The Executive Secretary of PTDF, Ahmed Aminu, said that Africa must reposition itself as a supplier of hydrocarbons, and also as a hub for innovation, supported by strong policies and skilled manpower.
Aminu was represented by Mr Olayinka Agboola, General Manager, Strategic Planning and Documentation Department, PTDF.
He said that PTDF was advancing Nigeria’s energy-transition goals through scholarships, research funding, and partnerships that strengthen technical competence and knowledge transfer.
“Our task is to shift from mere resource extraction to sustainable, inclusive value creation grounded in environmental stewardship, sound institutions and robust local content,” Aminu said.
The theme of the conference is, “Transforming Africa’s Hydrocarbon Sector: Balancing Growth, Environment and Governance”.
NAN
Ends
NES pledge to advance sustainable climate action, policy development in Nigeria
By Helen Oji
Abuja
The Nigerian Environmental Society (NES) has reaffirmed its commitment to advancing environmental professionalism, policy development, and sustainable climate action in Nigeria.
The President of NES, Dr. Efegbidiki Okobia, made this known during the 40th anniversary, National Conference and 35th Annual General Meeting, Thursday in Abuja.
He described the milestone as a defining moment in NES’s journey and we are celebrating the 40th anniversary.
“For the past 40 years, we have made giant strides with different partners across government and the private sector,” he said.
Okobia recounted how the society began with ten professionals, mainly from the oil and gas sector, and has since grown to 35 chapters across Nigeria and one in the United Kingdom.
He emphasised the passage of the Institute of Environmental Practitioners of Nigeria Act in May 2023 as a major breakthrough.
“That Act has given a voice to environmental practice as a foundation in Nigeria,” he said.
He noted that the NES had entered a strategic partnership with Sarah’s ISED to enhance capacity building, professional accreditation, and technology exchange for Nigerian practitioners.
Okobia also decried the country’s worsening waste management crisis, describing it as “a national disaster.”
In her keynote address, Sarah Mukherjee, President and CEO of the Institute of Sustainability and Environmental Professionals (ISED), United Kingdom, said the Nigerian Environmental Society as “a beacon of what can be achieved when a group of people come together with a vision and complete the hard work.”
Sarah, who spoke on the theme Nigeria’s Contribution to Global Climate Action, congratulated the society for its 40 years of commitment to environmental advocacy, policy development, and capacity building.
“You should be rightly proud to celebrate 40 years of the society’s dedication to shaping national policies, from the National Policy on the Environment to the Environmental Impact Assessment Act,” she said. “It is a landmark achievement.”
Also speaking, the society’s founding members, Mr. Hamid Adekunle, reflected on its humble beginning and expressed gratitude for its growth.
“There were ten of us who started the Nigerian Environmental Society. I thank Almighty God that I am alive to see 40 years of the seed we planted,” he said.
He praised the current leadership for achieving the long-sought professionalisation of environmental practice and urged the next generation to prioritise research and innovation that address Nigeria’s unique environmental realities.
NAN
