CSOs task Nigerian govt to empower NUPRC, urge oil firms to respect regulatory oversight

Civil society groups, traditional leaders, and community stakeholders have called on the Federal Government to provide the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC, with adequate resources to sustain its monitoring and enforcement duties across Nigeria’s oil-producing regions.

The stakeholders also warned oil companies operating in Nigeria not to undermine the regulatory processes and rules of engagement as mandated by the PIA.

This appeal was contained in a communiqué issued at the end of a one-day sensitization forum on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), held at the Coral Reef Hotel in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

The event, organized by Kaima Pearl Limited in collaboration with local CSOs, focused on the role of the media, civil society, and grassroots actors in ensuring compliance with the PIA.

While participants at the forum commended the leadership of Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the NUPRC, for restoring public confidence in the regulatory process, they warned that the gains recorded so far risk being eroded if the Commission is not properly funded and empowered to enforce its mandate.

“The NUPRC under Engr. Komolafe has demonstrated regulatory courage, but without sustained federal support, these efforts may stall,” the communiqué read.

“We urge the Federal Government to prioritize funding for the Commission to enable it to carry out its vital oversight functions effectively.”

The communiqué also issued a strong warning to oil companies operating in Nigeria, urging them to desist from actions that undermine the regulatory process or attempt to bypass community engagement mechanisms mandated by the PIA.

Participants highlighted the progress made under Komolafe’s leadership, especially in ensuring the establishment and operation of Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), which are intended to directly benefit oil-producing communities.

At the event, Project Manager for KPL, Mallam Nasir Abdulquadri, noted NUPRC’s proactive approach to community engagement and enforcement, calling the agency “a model of reform in a historically opaque sector.”

Similarly, Chief Felix Ekpetiama, a traditional ruler from the Niger Delta, stated that stronger regulatory oversight is compelling oil companies to act more responsibly.

“For the first time, these companies are consulting more, reporting more, and beginning to align their actions with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act. That’s because the NUPRC is watching — and acting,” he said.

Other speakers, including Ijaw rights activist Comrade Timi Tari George and Reverend Grace Igbokwe of Eleme, called for continued vigilance by civil society to ensure oil operators are held accountable, while encouraging NUPRC to deepen its commitment to transparency and inclusion.