Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, long plagued by secrecy and corruption, is undergoing a major transformation as the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) rolls out reforms that are boosting accountability and investor confidence.

The Ghana-based Public Space Tracker, in a statement on Wednesday, said the Commission, under the leadership of Gbenga Komolafe, has dismantled decades of opacity by publishing clear data on oil production, licensing, royalties, and revenue remittances.

Convener of the group, Dr. Ousman Zaharadeen, said the NUPRC has repositioned the industry by embracing openness and efficiency.

“For decades, Nigeria’s oil industry was shrouded in secrecy and riddled with leakages. But under Komolafe, the NUPRC has proven that resource governance can be both open and efficient,” Zaharadeen stated.

The group credited the Commission with enforcing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), adopting real-time monitoring of crude production, and engaging communities and operators in ways that have curbed leakages, boosted revenues, and strengthened trust.

It added that these reforms have enhanced Nigeria’s international image, attracting investors who now view the regulatory framework as clear and reliable.

According to Zaharadeen, the Commission’s work has “reversed decades of secrecy and placed Nigeria’s oil sector on a path of measurable accountability.”

The organisation urged other government agencies to emulate the Commission’s approach, stressing that transparency and accountability are essential to rebuilding citizens’ trust in governance.

“Beyond petroleum, Nigeria needs regulators in every sector who can match the example of NUPRC. This is not about propaganda but measurable actions that strengthen institutions, reassure investors, and benefit ordinary citizens,” Zaharadeen said.