The Parroters

By Ibrahim Idris When the momentous task of leading a constituted regulatory edifice like NUPRC is entrusted to a single person, the world expects two things: fidelity to statutory duty and demonstrable outcomes. In Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, it is no surprising that those expectations have been largely met, and have been exceeded on many occasions by Engineer Gbenga Komolafe. Being the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Komolafe is a living metonym for “Regulatory Excellence”, one who is meticulous in method, and relentless in his delivery. Komolafe’s regulatory excellence is a precis of performance. His ability to expressly use technological modernity to reorient the upstream governance from an era of opaque process to one that’s characterized by clearer rules, timelier approvals, and an insistence on environmental and fiscal accountability, speaks a lot about the valuable experiences he has gotten over decades of commitment. T...

An oil and gas watchdog, the Niger Delta Accountability and Resource Protection Network (NDARPN), has refuted claims by the House of Representatives Committee on the South South Development Commission alleging that Nigeria’s failure to implement key Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) funds has deprived the region of over ₦1 trillion. In a statement issued on Friday in Port Harcourt, the group’s president, Comrade Ebikabo West, described the committee’s assertions as “sensational, misleading and potentially damaging to the investment stabilisation the PIA has steadily cultivated”. West said the PIA’s implementation by the respective regulatory bodies, particularly in the management of host community development funds and environmental obligations, has been impactful and more transparent than any pre-PIA framework. He warned lawmakers against political statements that could “erode investor confidence or disrupt the delicate progress achieved so far”. “It is simply inaccurate to suggest that th...

The Human Rights Watchdog in Africa (HRWA) has demanded that President Bola Tinubu declare a state of emergency in the troubled northwest state, accusing Governor Dauda Lawal of fueling insecurity through reckless political gamesmanship and a blatant disregard for human life. The urgent call, issued on November 28, 2025, comes in direct response to explosive reports that over 500 inmates convicted of banditry-related offences—many jailed under previous administrations—have been mysteriously released from the Gusau Correctional Facility. Insiders at the facility revealed that among the freed prisoners were 69 hardened bandits who allegedly received a secret state pardon from Governor Lawal as far back as September 2025. Further details emerged that these ex-inmates were funnelled through the Zamfara State Zakat and Endowment Board for "religious amnesty," ostensibly to aid their reintegration into society. Compounding the outrage, sources confirmed that eight suspects remanded...

The Network for Peace and Development (NPD) has described the successful rescue of the 24 schoolgirls abducted from Government Girls Secondary School, Maga, Kebbi State, as “a divine victory and a resounding testament to decisive presidential leadership.” In a statement issued this evening and signed by its Executive Director, Rev. Moses Adamu, the group praised President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his immediate and firm directive that produced results in record time. “To the glory of God Almighty, our daughters are back home alive and unharmed,” Rev. Adamu declared. “This miracle did not happen by chance. It is the direct result of Mr. President’s fatherly resolve when he ordered the Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Matawalle, to relocate to Kebbi State and ensure the girls were brought back alive. That single instruction changed everything.” The NPD singled out Dr. Matawalle for special commendation, describing his physical presence in the state as the turning point in ...

By Bukola Olasanmi  On the surface, the piece published in the online and PDF editions of the Africa Oil+Gas Report on 24 November 2025 under the title “The irregularities of the regulator will keep Nigeria’s upstream underachieving” wears the respectable garb of a professional intervention designed to stimulate debate and provoke corrective action. A closer, honest reading instantly betrays the personal grievance of the publisher, Toyin Akinosho, who has cynically disguised his private shopping list as an “editorial.” The deliberate distortion of facts, the selective deployment of half-truths, and the insertion of outright falsehoods disgrace the very idea of an editorial—an exercise that is meant to be impartial, disinterested, and committed solely to the public good. For the remainder of this rebuttal, therefore, the article will be correctly described as Akinosho’s opinion piece, not as any official editorial of the Africa Oil+Gas Report. To dignify it with the label “editorial...

The Kebbi APC Youth Forum has condemned the Zamfara State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for sabotaging the ongoing rescue of 24 female students kidnapped from Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, in the Talata-Mafara area of Kebbi state. The youths, in a statement signed by their Chairman, Comrade Nasiru Maga, and circulated to newsmen in Birnin Kebbi, described the Zamfara PDP’s recent press statement criticizing the deployment of Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to coordinate the rescue as “heartless, wicked, and tantamount to giving comfort to terrorists.” “While our daughters are spending another terrifying night in the bush, Governor Dauda Lawal and his media thugs are busy typing press releases to frustrate the rescue mission just because the man leading the operation is their political enemy,” the statement read.  “This is no longer politics; this is dancing on the blood of innocent children.” The group reminded Governor...

The Pan African Parliament (PAP) has commended Nigeria for its remarkable and historic turnaround in the petroleum sector, describing the country’s upstream reforms as a benchmark for the continent. At the conclusion of a fourteen-day special syndicate meeting of West African parliamentarians held in Johannesburg to deliberate on African resource management and the urgent need for a continental model law, PAP members declared Nigeria’s faithful implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 the practical template that other African oil-producing nations should emulate. The meeting resolved to fast-track the drafting of a Model Law on Natural Resource Governance, with Nigeria’s transparent, predictable and investment-friendly licensing regime repeatedly cited as the central reference point. At the centre of the continent’s admiration is Nigeria’s dramatic production rebound. Official figures confirm the country has repeatedly surpassed 1.7 million barrels per day in 2025, decis...

The Zamfara State chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has launched a blistering attack on the state’s Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) administration, accusing it of deliberately undermining federal efforts to rescue 24 female students abducted from Government Comprehensive Secondary School, Maga, Talata-Mafara Local Government Area of Kebbi State on Wednesday. In a strongly worded statement issued Friday by the APC Publicity Secretary, Yusuf Idris Gusau, the party described a recent press release by the “dissolved” Zamfara PDP as “shameful, disgraceful and unpatriotic,” claiming it was designed to sabotage President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s directive to the Minister of State for Defence, Dr Bello Mohammed Matawalle, to personally coordinate the rescue operation. The APC statement highlighted that President Tinubu cancelled a scheduled trip to the G20 Summit in South Africa immediately after receiving news of the abduction – a move the party contrasted with previous administrations...

  Today, we join millions of patriotic Nigerians in celebrating an exceptional statesman, a fearless reformer, and a man of unwavering integrity, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu, The National Security Adviser (NSA) to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, on the occasion of his 65th birthday.   As a movement committed to the success of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, we express our profound respect and patriotic loyalty to a leader who continues to demonstrate rare courage, vision, and commitment in transforming Nigeria’s security architecture.   Mallam Nuhu Ribadu stands out as a man who works tirelessly to restore peace, strengthen national security, and rebuild public trust. His dedication to addressing insecurity is not only evident but deeply inspiring. We acknowledge his unwavering commitment, strategic interventions, and fearless approach in confronting the complex security challenges facing our nation.   While the growing state of insecurity...

The Zamfara State Governor, Dauda Lawal has reportedly escalated moves to undermine President Bola Tinubu’s administration after failing to get a nod to defect from his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) to the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC).  Sources familiar with actions taken by the governor’s camp cited a report by an online platform, titled “EXCLUSIVE: How Tinubu’s Defence Minister Matawalle Maintains Contact With Bandit Leaders, Ordered Them To Compel Communities To Vote For APC — Former Aide” as the start of a disinformation campaign to target President Tinubu through his appointees.  One of the sources, who craved anonymity because of the fear of reprisal, revealed that the Zamfara state governor has given a marching order for his associates to “Unleash calculated spread of misinformation to deflect attention from his own dealings while sowing discord within the government at the center.”  He further revealed that “The story on Matawalle, for instance, is only...

The National Coordinator of PBAT Door-To-Door Movement, Comrade Sunday Adekanbi Asuku, has congratulated Dr A.I Ebeloku on his achievements as the Rector of the Federal Polytechnic, Ile Oluji, Ondo State.   Comrade Asuku described Dr Ebeloku as a silent achiever, a man of consummate pedigree and a team player in a statement he personally signed and released on Thursday as the institution holds its second convocation today.   "Massive Congratulations to the silent achiever, a man of consummate pedigree, a team player and an icon of development, Dr. A.I Ebeloku, The second substantive Rector of Fedpolel.   "This is indeed a new era and finally we can address Fedpolel as a higher institution, not a glorified secondary school.    "The meaningful amenities that enhances learning keeps rolling in, laboratories and workshops are loaded and ready, introduction of new accredited courses and so on.    "He has made history and carved a niche for himself, he has r...

The Zamfara Youth Network (ZYN) has described SaharaReporters publication alleging that Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, gave 36 Hilux vehicles to bandits and still chats with terrorists as a complete and malicious lie from beginning to end.    Speaking in Gusau today, Comrade Musa Usman said the story is nothing but a desperate attempt to rubbish the outstanding results the Minister has delivered since his appointment.   The youth body stated categorically that no such vehicles were ever handed to bandits under Matawalle’s watch as governor or as minister.    “These are recycled lies that were investigated and thrown away by security agencies years ago,” Musa said.    “Every single bandit leader mentioned in the story is already dead – neutralised by the same military operations Matawalle is directing right now. Dead men cannot drive Hilux vehicles and they cannot chat on WhatsApp.”   The ZYN further declared that the so-c...

The Oil and Gas Watchdogs Network has commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and its Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, for what it described as the “transparent, responsible, and judicious” management of the Frontier Exploration Fund, saying the Commission’s handling of the statutory allocation has ensured the money is used strictly for the purpose prescribed in the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). In a statement issued on Sunday in Port Harcourt, the coalition said recent public conversations surrounding the Fund had made it necessary to “set the record straight” and acknowledge the regulatory diligence that has guided its utilisation under Komolafe’s leadership. According to the group, the NUPRC has demonstrated “commendable discipline and clarity of purpose” in deploying the Fund, insisting that ongoing frontier basin activities ranging from seismic acquisition to exploratory drilling campaigns reflect the Commission’s commitment to expanding Nigeria’s ...

The attention of Dangote Petroleum Refinery has been drawn to a series of misleading publications claiming that the recent reduction in pump prices by oil marketers is a consequence of the Federal Government’s reversal of the 15 per cent import tariff. This narrative is entirely false, deliberately misleading, and inconsistent with actual market dynamics. For the avoidance of doubt, the factor that prompted the price adjustment was our own reduction of PMS gantry and coastal prices on November 6. The subsequent change in pump prices is now being wrongly attributed to a tariff decision in an attempt to distort the facts and misinform the public. To reiterate, Dangote Petroleum Refinery, on November 6, reduced its PMS gantry price from N877 to N828 per litre, representing a 5.6 per cent decrease, and its coastal price from N854 to N806 per litre. These changes were publicly announced across major media platforms, including, but not limited to, The Punch, Vanguard, The Cable, Daily Trust,...

The Honourable Minister of State for Defence, Dr. Bello Muhammed Matawalle, has delivered a strong message from President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to troops of Operation FANSAN YAMMA at the North-West Theatre Command Headquarters in Gusau, Zamfara State, charging them to completely eliminate the remaining remnants of bandits terrorising the region. Speaking on Friday shortly after observing Juma’at prayers at the Command Mosque, Dr. Matawalle conveyed President Tinubu’s deep appreciation for the troops’ patriotism, courage, and remarkable successes in decimating bandit formations across the Northwest. “Mr. President specifically asked me to tell you that you have done exceedingly well,” he said. “Most of the key bandit leaders and their foot soldiers have been neutralised through your gallant effort. “What remains now are a few scattered elements, and the Commander-in-Chief has directed that these remnants must be wiped out completely. “He assures you of every necessary support — logistics, e...

  By Benjamin Francis    The recent bestowal of a Professional Doctorate in Leadership (Energy Law) and the Global Sustainable Leadership Award upon Engr. Gbenga Komolafe at the House of Lords in London represents far more than mere personal recognition. These distinguished honours serve as a powerful international endorsement of transformative leadership that has profoundly reshaped Nigeria’s upstream oil and gas sector through strategic vision and measurable, impactful results.   When Engr. Komolafe assumed leadership of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission in 2021, he inherited a sector plagued by regulatory uncertainty and deep investor skepticism. The recent enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act presented both a formidable challenge and a golden opportunity to fundamentally transform how Nigeria’s vast petroleum resources were governed and developed.   His immediate focus centered on establishing the NUPRC as a modern, facilitative regula...

Former Zamfara State Governor and Minister of State for Defence, Bello Mohammed Matawalle, has said the state under Governor Dauda Lawal’s administration has collected over one trillion naira, ranging from monthly statutory allocations and bailouts meant for the development of the state and the fight for poverty and hunger. Matawalle made this disclosure on Friday at the state headquarters of the APC in Gusau, Zamfara State capital, while addressing thousands of party supporters and his well-wishers during his three-day visit to the state. The Minister further challenged that, whatever good people of Zamfara saw short of their expectations in the aspect of delivery of dividends of democracy, should make enquiries from the present Governor Dauda-led government, as the Tinubu’s administration has been doing everything possible to ensure the state government is receiving enough funds to make their life better. He lamented that there is not a single local government area out of the other t...

Over 600 civil society organizations (CSOs) have thrown their full weight behind former Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai (retd.) and taken a step further to demand the immediate sack of Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Minister Nyesom Wike over his public insult of a naval officer. The CSOs described Wike’s conduct as “unacceptable, reckless, and dangerous to national unity.” They endorsed General Buratai’s call for decisive action and insisted that nothing short of Wike’s removal from office would restore public trust and military morale. The coalition, under the auspices of Good Governance Network (GGN), said Wike’s behaviour was not just personal misconduct but a direct attack on the integrity of the Nigerian Armed Forces and an affront to the office of the Commander-in-Chief. They made this known in a joint communiqué signed by Centre for Transparency and Accountability in Governance, Nigerian Integrity Movement, Citizens Watch Forum, Anti-Corruption Vanguard Network, Dem...

  By Achile Achimugu    The Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development, Chief Festus Keyamo, enjoys many positive faces, making him ubiquitous and an all-round achiever. Truth is, anywhere he is placed, he performs in absolute unbeatable stewardship marked by tangible improvements.   Today, this bundle of proficiency and talents is progressively driving positive reforms, aimed at gradually reshaping Nigeria’s aviation landscape, enhancing safety, and boosting economic opportunities, the evolution of which is clearly upbeat, visionary, and radically transformative, rapidly changing the aviation sector into a world-class aviation industry through positive change.   Chief Keyamo’s wind of change began at a point where Nigeria’s aviation sector was comatose, plagued by inefficiencies and multifaceted systematic challenges; hence, immediately after assuming office, Chief Keyamo decided on some key reforms, captured under his five-point agenda which focused on adv...

By Muhammad Mustapha  The recent release by a self-proclaimed coalition of 88 APC support groups in Kebbi State, as reported in the Daily Nigerian, contains unfounded and misleading assertions aimed at creating unnecessary discord within our great party. We firmly disclaim these claims, which misrepresent facts and distort the historical contributions of dedicated leaders like Senator Abubakar Atiku Bagudu, the immediate past Governor of Kebbi State and current Honourable Minister of Budget and Economic Planning. Let the truth be laid bare; this coalition has no roots, no recognition, and no value within the APC. It is a faceless fabrication, unregistered and unknown at every level of party leadership; ward, local government, state, or national.   - No record of ever funding a single ward meeting.   - No history of mobilizing even one voter.   - No contribution not a kobo to any party activity.   Their 88 groups are nothing but ghost names on...