Civil society groups and grassroots stakeholders have lauded the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and its Chief Executive, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, for championing transparency and compliance in the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The commendation was made during a one-day sensitisation forum held on Wednesday in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, focusing on the role of civil society, the media, and local actors in the oil and gas sector.

Hosted by Kaima Pearl Limited in partnership with local civil society organisations, the event brought together traditional rulers, journalists, faith-based groups and regulatory officials in a town hall-style dialogue centred on strengthening the implementation of the PIA at the community level.

Delivering the opening remarks, Mallam Nasir Abdulquadri, Project Manager for Kaima Pearl Limited, described NUPRC under Komolafe’s leadership as “a benchmark of institutional reform” in a sector historically riddled with opacity.

“For the first time in years, communities feel heard,” Abdulquadri said. “NUPRC is not only enforcing the law but also ensuring that people in oil-producing regions are carried along in the process.”

He commended the decentralised approach taken by the Commission in engaging Host Community Development Trusts (HCDTs), noting that such reforms are restoring public trust and ensuring communities benefit meaningfully from petroleum resources.

Participants at the forum cited NUPRC’s monitoring visits, training sessions, and enforcement actions as evidence of a more accountable regulatory regime. Traditional leader Chief Felix Ekpetiama described the new approach as a welcome departure from the past.

“Oil companies are now more cautious and respectful in how they deal with our communities. This wasn’t the case before the PIA and the new regulatory enforcement. The shift is visible,” he said.

Similarly, Ijaw rights activist Comrade Timi Tari George emphasised the importance of sustained pressure and oversight. “In the past, firms operated like the law didn’t exist. But with the Commission cracking down, they are becoming more compliant. This is the kind of change the Niger Delta has long demanded.”

Reverend Grace Igbokwe, representing a faith-based advocacy group, praised NUPRC for including women and community leaders in policy conversations. “Implementation has always been Nigeria’s weakness, but we are starting to see that people-centred implementation is possible,” she said.

Breakout sessions during the event focused on enhancing civil society oversight of HCDTs and encouraging investigative journalism to monitor oil company compliance.

A communiqué issued at the end of the forum proposed the formation of a multi-stakeholder compliance watch group to monitor HCDT performance and collaborate with NUPRC offices in addressing community grievances.

The statement further urged the federal government to provide adequate support to the Commission and warned oil companies against attempts to circumvent regulatory processes.

“Engr. Komolafe has shown that regulatory reform is achievable in Nigeria,” the communiqué noted. “We must now build on this foundation with strong civic participation and unwavering institutional will.”

Since the passage of the PIA in 2021, implementation challenges have persisted, particularly in oil-rich states. However, many stakeholders now express cautious optimism that under the current NUPRC leadership, long-standing grievances may finally be addressed.