The Energy Governance Alliance (EGA) has commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for generating a record N12.25 trillion in revenue in 2024, describing it as a testament to the commission’s regulatory reforms and strategic leadership under Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe.

In a statement issued on Tuesday and signed by its Executive Director, Dr Kelvin Sotonye William, the alliance said the revenue achievement marked a watershed moment in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, affirming NUPRC’s central role in repositioning the upstream industry for value creation, fiscal accountability and national development.

The figure, disclosed in the commission’s newly released 2024 Annual Report, represents a 182.25 percent increase from the N4.34 trillion generated in 2023. It also significantly surpassed the 2024 forecast revenue of N6.93 trillion by over N5 trillion.

“The Energy Governance Alliance welcomes the stellar performance of the NUPRC, under the visionary stewardship of Mr Gbenga Komolafe, for generating over N12 trillion in 2024 — the highest ever recorded in a single year in Nigeria’s upstream sector,” the statement reads.

“This performance is not accidental. It reflects sustained policy clarity, increased compliance, and a bold enforcement posture on critical issues such as royalty payments, gas flare penalties and lease renewals. These are the very foundations of energy justice, and we applaud the Commission for restoring regulatory credibility in a sector long plagued by opacity and inefficiency.”

EGA said the unprecedented revenue inflow has “revalidated the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 as a working framework for revenue optimisation, investor discipline and upstream transparency”, adding that the Komolafe-led NUPRC had broken new ground in actualising the fiscal and institutional aspirations of the landmark law.

According to the commission’s breakdown, oil and gas royalties alone accounted for N11.08 trillion in 2024 — nearly twice the projected figure — while gas flared penalties brought in N391.26 billion, and concession rentals fetched N23.71 billion. Other key revenue lines included N369.57 billion from signature bonuses, N230.73 billion from lease renewals, N35.19 billion in miscellaneous income, and N117.02 billion from goods and valuable consideration.

Reacting to the figures, Dr William said the scale and spread of the revenue performance demonstrated a “whole-of-sector approach” that has closed long-standing loopholes and challenged entrenched rent-seeking behaviour.

“For the first time in recent memory, we are seeing a regulator extract value from multiple pressure points across the upstream system — from flare penalties to lease administration. This is what it means to govern oil in the public interest,” he said.

EGA urged other agencies in the oil and gas ecosystem to emulate NUPRC’s results-oriented culture, noting that the commission’s transparency in publishing unreconciled production volumes, average daily outputs, and compliance with the technical allowable rate (TAR) regime was “a welcome deviation from the era of secrecy”.

The report had revealed that total crude production in 2024 stood at 578.5 million barrels — comprising 482.8 million barrels of oil and 95.7 million barrels of condensate — with a daily average output of 1.58 million barrels per day. Joint ventures contributed 48 percent of the production, followed by production sharing contracts at 35 percent, sole risk operations at 13 percent, and marginal fields at 4 percent.

The alliance also welcomed NUPRC’s disclosures on the TAR, which stood at 67 percent in 2024, and urged further collaboration with industry players to raise efficiency levels.

“This is not just about revenue. It’s also about regulatory honesty. By publishing unreconciled volumes and clarifying that they are not to be mistaken for export figures, NUPRC has sent a strong message that it is no longer business as usual. This level of transparency is key to improving investor confidence and public trust,” William said.

EGA said it was particularly impressed with the commission’s performance in gas flare penalties and lease renewals, which surpassed their 2024 projections by over 200 percent, indicating renewed rigour in enforcement.

It noted that N391 billion was realised from gas flaring penalties, compared to a projected N126 billion, while lease renewals brought in N230.73 billion, almost three times the forecasted N80.63 billion.

“Gas flaring is an ecological crime and an economic waste. The fact that penalties have become a major revenue item shows the Commission’s zero-tolerance stance. We expect this to further push operators towards cleaner and more responsible energy production,” the alliance added.

The alliance urged the Federal Government to channel a significant portion of the NUPRC’s revenue surplus into supporting host communities, funding clean energy transitions and closing infrastructure gaps in the Niger Delta.

“Komolafe’s performance shows that Nigeria’s oil sector can deliver both revenue and reform — if we prioritise competence, clarity and courage. The Energy Governance Alliance urges President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to continue backing such reforms and ensure that the NUPRC remains insulated from political interference,” the statement concluded.

A group of 500 public interest lawyers has stormed the Presidential Villa and National Assembly with a petition demanding the immediate sack and prosecution of Ahmed Farouk, the Chief Executive Officer, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The lawyers cited grave allegations of corruption, abuse of office, and conflict of interest against Farouk, including the alleged diversion of over $5 million of public funds to finance his children’s education in elite institutions in Switzerland and India.

Led by Samuel Ihensekhien, they also accused Farouk of employing his son, Faisal Ahmed, in Oando PLC, a private entity directly under NMDPRA’s regulatory oversight, constituting a clear conflict of interest.

The petitioners further alleged that Farouk has fled the country to evade arrest and is hiding on a private island in the United States, an act they described as “cowardly” and indicative of guilt.

” It is alleged that Mr. Farouk Ahmed diverted over $5 million of public funds to finance the private foreign education of his four children in elite institutions across Switzerland and India,” the petition reads.

“This flagrant misuse of public resources, at a time when millions of Nigerians suffer from deteriorating public education
infrastructure, is both morally reprehensible and criminally indictable.

“Mr. Ahmed’s son, Faisal Ahmed, was reportedly employed by Oando PLC, a private entity directly under the regulatory oversight of NMDPRA. This constitutes a glaring conflict of interest and a violation of ethical standards and the principles of impartial regulation.

“The actions of Mr. Ahmed represent a clear abuse of office, a betrayal of theNigerian people’s trust, and a severe breach of the fiduciary duty required of all public servants. Recent credible reports suggest that Mr. Ahmed has fled the country in an
attempt to evade arrest and is allegedly hiding on a private island in the United States. “

They demanded that the National Assembly commence an immediate investigation, recommend Farouk’s immediate sack and suspension, and collaborate with international security agencies like Interpol to ensure his extradition back to Nigeria.

The lawyers also called for the freezing of Farouk’s local and offshore assets and sweeping reforms in the appointment and oversight of regulatory agency heads in the oil and gas sector.

The petition is backed by civil society organizations, including the Situation Room for Oil Sector Reforms, the Concerned Young Professionals Network, and the Coalition for Public Accountability (COPA), who have held protests calling for Farouk’s suspension and prosecution.

The petitioners emphasised that Farouk’s actions represent a clear abuse of office, a betrayal of the Nigerian people’s trust, and a severe breach of fiduciary duty, and that his continued occupancy of the position threatens transparency, accountability, and reforms in the petroleum sector.

It was a morning of nostalgia, camaraderie, and legacy as hundreds of alumni of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, converged at the Old Parade Ground, Area 10, Abuja for the highly anticipated “Walk to Meet” initiative organized by the Abuja Branch of the ABU Alumni Association.

Clad in branded shirts, caps, and radiant smiles, the crowd, both young and senior alumni, took to the streets in a unity walk that was less about fitness and more about rekindling the cherished memories of Nigeria’s premier northern university. The event, which was part of broader efforts to foster intergenerational bonding and strengthen alumni networks, saw men and women from all walks of life reliving the glories of their campus days.

But the undisputed highlight of the gathering was the emotional unveiling of Dr. Danjuma Sulai, a proud member of the 1973 pioneer set of the Faculty of Medicine and Surgery, who emerged as the “ABUSITE of the Day.”

Dr. Sulai, the current Medical Director and CEO of G&S Specialist Clinic, stood tall—both in history and presence—as the oldest alumnus at the event. His walk, steady and dignified, drew admiration from the younger generation, many of whom couldn’t hide their excitement at meeting a living embodiment of ABU’s storied past.

“Dr. Sulai is not just a doctor; he is a monument to the legacy of ABU,” said the branch chairman during the presentation. “He represents the bridge between where we started and where we are headed. His dedication to medicine and to this institution inspires us all.”

In recognition of his agility, historical significance, and institutional memory, the alumni community fittingly honoured him as “ABUSITE of the Day.” The citation drew standing applause, with many capturing the moment on their phones, eager to etch the image of a living legend into the canvas of memory.

Adding institutional gravitas to the day was the presence of the Worldwide President of the ABU Alumni Association, Dr. Mamman Kontagora, who led the national executives to the event. Dr. Kontagora commended the Abuja branch for sustaining the tradition of togetherness and for celebrating the past while investing in the future.

“This walk is more than a ritual. It is a reminder that wherever we go, we carry the spirit of ABU within us. We are not just alumni; we are a family bonded by history, excellence, and the mission to give back,” Kontagora said in his remarks.

The event culminated in light refreshments, group photographs, and plans for mentoring programs where older alumni like Dr. Sulai would interact more frequently with younger professionals and students.

As the sun rose over Abuja, the legacy of Ahmadu Bello University shone brighter—not just in the steps taken during the walk, but in the memories reignited, the bonds renewed, and the legacy celebrated through one of its oldest torchbearers, Dr. Danjuma Sulai.

*Abdullahi O Haruna Haruspice is the spokesperson for the Ahmadu Bello University Zaria Alumni Association Abuja Branch.