By The Nigerians in Diaspora Groups have applauded President Bola Tinubu and Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) CEO, Gbenga Komolafe, for ushering in a new era of transparency and accountability in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
In a statement released Monday, David Matthew Akpambu, Global President of the group, hailed the 2024 Oil Block Licensing Round as a historic shift, conducted fully in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) and NUPRC guidelines.
“This reform is a testament to the leadership of President Tinubu and the proactive vision of Gbenga Komolafe,” the statement read.
Highlights of the reform include:
Digital, encrypted bid process for maximum transparency.
Public commercial bid phase broadcast live with oversight from NEITI and the Federal Ministry of Finance.
Stringent prequalification criteria, requiring technical and financial capacity.
Instantaneous, point-based evaluations with zero human interference.
According to the group, this marks the first time in Nigeria’s history that the oil licensing process has been fully digital, secure, and tamper-proof, protecting the country’s assets from mismanagement.
They further praised the open, fair structure, which allowed new entrants to compete on a level playing field, so long as they were backed by credible industry players.
The group reaffirmed its support for Tinubu and Komolafe, calling their efforts a “clear departure” from past practices marred by allegations of corruption.
“This process set a new standard for transparency and efficiency in our oil and gas sector,” they added.
