Television Nigerian

With praise for the leadership of its Chief Executive, Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, whose governance has established a new standard for accountability and efficiency in the country’s oil and gas industry, the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) has been recognized as the most transparent and exceptional government organization in the nation.

Since taking office, NUPRC has shown “remarkable openness, policy innovation, and integrity in the management of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum resources,” according to a statement released in Ghana on Wednesday by the Public Space Tracker in West Africa.

The organization highlighted that transparency in resource governance is not only a catchphrase but a quantifiable practice that has come to be associated with the NUPRC, characterizing the Commission as an example of how regulatory agencies ought to operate in a democracy.

The Commission, under Komolafe, has restored confidence among investors, civil society organizations, and citizens by providing clear data on oil production, licensing, royalties, and revenue remittances, according to Dr. Ousman Zaharadeen, Convener of the Public Space Tracker.

“Engr. Gbenga Komolafe has demonstrated that a government organization can be both transparent and effective with intentional leadership.” The NUPRC has demonstrated exceptional success in disseminating reliable information, interacting with stakeholders in an honest manner, and guaranteeing the equitable and responsible management of Nigeria’s petroleum resources. This makes it, in our opinion, the most exceptional and transparent agency in Nigeria right now,” Zaharadeen stated.

The group emphasised the Commission’s regular meetings with communities, operators, and civil society to build confidence, ensure adherence to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), and publish industry statistics. It further stated that these actions have improved Nigeria’s reputation internationally for resource governance in addition to increasing public accountability.

Read Also: Tragedy in Imo: Gas Tanker Accident Claims 12 Lives, Injures Many

Zaharadeen claims that the NUPRC’s transparency efforts have contributed to a reduction in opacity in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which has long been plagued by corruption and secrecy.

He underlined that the Commission has put Nigeria on the path to better energy equity and fiscal discipline by spearheading reforms in upstream petroleum regulation.

“The Commission has reduced leaks and increased government revenues by insisting on real-time monitoring of crude oil production and by enforcing strict regulatory oversight.” Additionally, its interactions with host communities have shown that extractive governance can be inclusive and people-centered, the statement said.

The Commission’s role has been crucial to recent increases in production and revenue generation, according to Public Space Tracker in West Africa, which also praised NUPRC’s cooperative approach to combating oil theft.

“The NUPRC has gained trust both domestically and internationally thanks to its transparent operations. Because of this, Nigeria is now attracting more serious investors who see that the regulations are implemented fairly, consistently, and clearly,” Zaharadeen said.

The organization emphasized that accountability and transparency are essential to restoring public confidence in government and asked other government bodies to follow the Commission’s lead.

Nigeria requires regulators who can follow the NUPRC’s lead in other sectors, not just petroleum. “This is about quantifiable actions that bolster institutions, reassure investors, and benefit common people, not propaganda,” he stated.

“Under Komolafe’s leadership, the Commission would continue to deepen transparency, strengthen Nigeria’s fiscal base, and drive the country’s transition towards a more accountable resource economy,” said Public Space Tracker in West Africa, which called for continuous changes.

We have recognized the NUPRC as the federation’s most exceptional and transparent agency. We applaud Engineer Komolafe for his outstanding leadership and encourage him to continue this path of transparency, responsibility, and creativity for the benefit of Nigerians,” the statement said.

The Chief Responsibility Officer and Chief Executive Officer of the CEO’s Class, Pst. Korede Komaiya, has said trust is a necessary catalyst in the marketplace.

Komaiya made this known in a statement, saying: “In the marketplace, trust is the most powerful currency. It outweighs money, resources, and even strategy. Without trust, visibility is lost, opportunities are closed, and voices go unheard. But with trust, influence becomes unstoppable, doors of favor swing open, and your brand becomes unforgettable.”
Komaiya, who announced he would be addressing the subject in his upcoming CEO’s Class on Monday, September 8, at 4:00 p.m., noted that the session would focus on “social currency” and how leaders across different fields can leverage trust as their greatest asset.
He added: “In this transformative session, I will uncover how to make your brand believable, become the most trusted, and move clients from customers to fanatics.”

“This is not a theory but tested truth. When you master the currency of trust, you will never struggle for relevance, influence, or recognition again. Your next level in business, leadership, and destiny is locked in your ability to command trust. Don’t miss it for anything,” Komaiya emphasized.

BY SIMON ABIODUN
With foresight reminiscent of Nostradamus, Ajayi has become the man who saw
tomorrow. Guided by clarity of purpose, he has transformed vision into reality
since assuming office as the DGSS, a year ago. What began on 26th August, 2024
has remained action packed, a fulfilment of promises and continuous progress
marked with milestones that speak to leadership, dedication and diligence. In just
twelve months, Ajayi’ s ability to anticipate challenges and seize opportunities has
shown him as one who came prepared.
Since assuming duty, he has infused every action with the imprint of great dreams
and far-reaching vision. His leadership reflects not only a commitment to the
present but also a bold imagination for what the future of the DSS can become. One
would say, that a defining hallmark of Ajayi’ s first year has been the daring
repositioning of the DSS, transforming it from a conventional structure into a
dynamic institution better equipped to address contemporary security challenges.
Central to this transformation has been his deliberate refocus on the principle of
covertness, a major move that has sharpened his staff ability to be futuristic, act
discreetly, anticipate and neutralise threats. It is therefore not surprising that under
his leadership, the Service has become more responsive, with improved intelligence
gathering initiative. The information sharing systems with both domestic and
international stakeholders are topnotch. Indeed, this renewed focus has sharpened
the capacity to counter challenges such as terrorism, banditry, kidnapping,
cybercrime, transnational organised crime including online threats thus firmly
establishing the Service as a trusted pillar in safeguarding national security.
To sustain this capacity, Ajayi prioritises training and capacity building as a
cornerstone of the agency’ s transformation. His emphasis on advanced skills in
intelligence gathering, analysis and modern technologies has ensured that the
Service’ s human capital is fully aligned with its renewed mandate. His leadership
is exemplary. His dictum is Do As I Do. As a practical man, he leads from the
front. When he first got to office, he told staff he came prepared to accomplish. He
assured he would challenge the status quo and not be a That’ s How We Do It
DG. He called on personnel to join him in what has become a beautiful sprint.
Whether on early arrival at work, meetings or schedules, exhibiting discipline and
diligence, responsibility and team spirit on assigned roles, his commitment has
remained the same. For him, DSS must serve Nigeria with pride, honesty and
patriotism. He is goal-oriented.
Beyond institutional reforms, the DGSS has placed a premium on staff welfare.
This is in recognition that motivated personnel are the backbone of any successful
organization. He has improved the conditions of service by ensuring fairer
remuneration, timely promotions and clearer career progression. He also introduced
stronger support systems, including healthcare and housing packages, designed to
give officers and their families a greater sense of security. In addition, new policies
were put in place to prioritize overall well-being of all. He recognizes excellence
and provides safeguards for those in high-risk assignments. Equally significant has
been his decisive move to realign ranks and restore discipline, a reform that
injected fairness, merit, accountability, predictability and self appraisal into the
agency’ s structure.
Remarkably, retirees are not left behind under him. Not only harmonised their
benefits, he gives them all they ever asked for. It has become honourable to work
and retire from the DSS. There could not have been a prouder time. Anticipating
the long-term impact of these steps, he understood that internal order and morale
would translate into sharper efficiency and stronger credibility externally. Today,
the DSS reflects a culture of professionalism, thus showcasing attributes that are
vital for meeting the demands of a complex security environment. Any time I come
across DSS personnel, all I hear are praises of their new DG who has brought
positive change to their prestigious Agency. I feel jealous I wished I could be a
member.
Meanwhile, Ajayi’ s insightful contributions to policy through timely intelligence,
strategic analysis and clear recommendations to consumers have fortified political
stability and strengthened democratic institutions. These inputs have also nurtured
an atmosphere of trust in governance, thereby ensuring that national decisions are
grounded in foresight and security consciousness. Likewise, his contributions to
securing critical infrastructure has created an environment of safety, thus
supporting economic growth and giving businesses and investors the confidence to
thrive. In weaving security into the fabric of economic progress and political
stability, Ayayi has shown that intelligence leadership, when guided by vision and
purpose, is not just about protection but about driving the nation’ s journey toward
peace and prosperity. This scenario is epitomised by the recent apprehension of
Ansaru terrorist leaders. Who else could have done that except the one who takes
the bull by the horn and walks on paths feared by others.
One year on, Ajayi’ s leadership has already left an indelible mark. His
transformative actions within the agency, commitment to staff welfare, discipline
and strategic influence on national policy have set a high standard. It has been a
first year of bold moves, measurable impact and a promise of even greater
achievements ahead for DSS staff, the nation and its citizens. Congratulations,
TOSIN and 12 hearty cheers to many more years of visionary leadership and
outstanding service. Your imagination will never decline. Set your eyes on the ball,
able Golfer.
Abiodun is a Public Affairs Analyst based in Lagos.

Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, the spokesperson for Ooni of Ife, Moses Olafare, has called the 48-hour ultimatum from Oba Abimbola Owoade, the Alaafin of Oyo, to his principal over the reversal of the title granted to Dotun Sanusi, a well-known business magnate from Ibadan, a meaningless threat.
In a statement, his Director of Media and Publicity, Bode Durojaiye, reportedly claimed that the king did not have the sole authority to grant the businessman the chieftaincy title of Okanlomo of Yorubaland.
The Alaafin alone had the only ability to grant titles that span Yorubaland, he said, furious that the Ooni’s move called into question his authority.

Ooni’s instrument of office, he clarified, limits his power to the Oranmiyan Local Government, which has subsequently been split into Ife Central, Ife North, and Ife South.

As a result, Owoade asked that the title be revoked within 48 hours and threatened to take legal action if this was not done.

Recalling his unity journey in Yorubaland, the monarch emphasized that the region’s peace and unity continue to be the cornerstones of significant and sustainable growth.

But in a post on his Facebook page on Tuesday, Olafare said that the Ooni specifically told him to disregard the esteemed Oyo king.

Olafare asserted that the Ooni would not honor what he called “undignifable” with an official answer, emphasizing that he had left the issue to be decided in a public court of opinion.

According to the post, “I have been instructed by my principal not to issue a press release regarding the Alawada Babasala’s empty threat.” I hate to disappoint you, press gentlemen.

The “undignifable” cannot be made respectable by an official reaction. Since the matter is already being tried in the public court of opinion, we let it be handled there.

Instead than emphasizing stories that have the power to divide us, let’s concentrate on those that bring us together. 48 Hours My Foot, please (sic) no press release!

represents Yiaga Africa as its Executive Director. His topics in this conversation include the nationwide by-election that was held on Saturday. He criticizes the part politicians play in elections, the need for the National Assembly and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to improve the electoral process, the electorate’s contribution to democracy, and more. The following are extracts from Joy Anibogu:

What are your thoughts on the string of accusations and the validity of Saturday’s by-election?

It’s wonderful that this election has finally taken place. Although it has not yet been resolved, we are certain that it will. Since this by-election should have been over last year. It was not carried out. I am aware that the fact that the independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) was not given the funds necessary to conduct the election was one of the factors contributing to its lengthy duration. And that is problematic in and of itself because depriving the electoral commission of the necessary funding is one method to capture INEC and prevent it from operating. Therefore, INEC lacked the resources necessary to hold the election, which is why it is being held today. Three things, however, are evident from today’s election. The first is that the fundamental principles of democracy and legitimate elections are still disregarded by our political elite. It is completely unacceptable in and of itself to look at areas like Kano, where there was a massive thugs’ mobilization. This is evident, then. Additionally, I’m not sure how the general elections in 2027 will turn out.

But does it not imply that voters, the electorate, are being taught the fundamentals of democracy?

No, not precisely. First, a number of problems exist. For what you refer to as socio-economic disparities, consider thuggery. Additionally, there is a notion that suggests that thuggery is fueled by the lack of prospects, employment, and support from the state. The second is that when people believe that politicians are stealing public money and failing to deliver, they want to be used as tools by those same politicians to sabotage the process. so that they can share in the cake. Thus, that is one of the problems causing this. However, I would venture to suggest that if you go elsewhere and have heard the Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) speak before, there was an attempt to sabotage the process. You can also notice it if you look at Ogun State. In my opinion, the events of today are but a prelude to what will occur in 2027.

Would it be a good prelude to the 2027 elections regarding the two qualities I stated earlier—integrity and management?

Indeed. for a few different reasons. First, when the security forces chastised those thugs in locations like Kano, I believe they were very responsive. Additionally, arrests have been made in Kaduna and Kano. A political party agent and two INEC officials were also detained, as we have seen. As a result, they responded quickly. However, it’s a by-election. The 2027 elections will be overburdened since they will be held throughout the entire nation. I want to give them a pass, though, and I want to praise the security services for their promptness during today’s by-election. This amount of turnout and the reasons why voters did not come out, however, make up the third element. There are a number of possible causes. First, weariness can be the cause. Secondly, they simply do not believe that their life will be changed by voting in this election. However, people do not respond by staying away when they are told that their votes are not counted because doing so will allow the minority to rule over the majority. In a democracy, that is an aberration in and of itself.

In elections, you must be there and make it harder for bad leaders to win. However, staying out won’t resolve this.

Is public awareness being used by political parties and even non-governmental organizations like yours to speed up this kind of campaigning?

We’re doing our part, yes. The media is also contributing as a civil society. However, I believe democracy is a process. Democracy necessitates negotiation, debate, and the ability to persuade others. As civic society, it is what we will keep doing. We shall keep an eye on the results of our elections and any gaps. Those holes will be identified and made public. As civil society, we will not compromise on the process of holding our elected officials and institutions accountable. We’re going to keep holding INEC to greater standards. Only then can democracy truly flourish. Therefore, I believe that, in spite of the difficulties civil society organizations have, they are largely fulfilling their mandate. In the same manner, the media is carrying out its function. However, the kingmakers in a democracy are ultimately the people. Additionally, it is another opportunity to send a strong message to the political elite that winning an election does not equate to legitimacy if they do not raise their voice when there other elections throughout the state with low turnout.

And after 26 years of democratic progress, it appears that computerized voting, or the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BIVAS), is a myth. Additionally, in other regions, such as African nations, results from the wards are released spontaneously to the local government offices and other locations. Why is it that doing this in Nigeria is so hard?

It’s not hard to do, in my opinion. The political class’s mindset, in my opinion, is what makes it challenging. They are the ones tampering with the election procedure. The process was made more sanitary with the introduction of the BIVAS and INEC Result Viewing Portal (IReV). In addition to improving voter accreditation speed, the BIVAS was implemented to restrict proxy and multiple voting. For what reason? Because politicians have historically manipulated elections by encouraging people to cast multiple or double votes. Therefore, I believe that the fact that these technologies are here and will remain such is crucial, but three factors need to be considered. First, the Supreme Court ruled that IReV is not included in the process of collation.

What must be done by the National Assembly?

The National Assembly, particularly the Senate and the House of Representatives, should mandate electronic transmission, even if I disagree with the Supreme Court. As a result, make both manual and electronic transmissions legally required. The second is that there is uncertainty over the current state of INEC’s rules, regulations, and guidelines. The standards and regulations are part of the legal framework, according to the court, and you must largely abide by their terms. However, it also states that, as electronic transmission is not covered by the Act, it cannot be introduced through regulations and that the regulations are not a part of the legal framework. Third, and maybe final, is the need for increased transparency and the requirement that INEC expose the back end of the BIVAS and the back end of the IReV to independent audit and examination. Voters and stakeholders can be assured that there is no corruption or manipulation of the INEC BIVAS and IReV servers’ back end in this way. Because elections cannot be held in a way that is opaque and still expect people to trust you. You must be transparent if you want others to trust the procedure and the result. For this reason, people are stating that they require a new INEC, and that INEC should be able to do all of these things. Only by strengthening our democracy will we be able to increase the number of people who vote in elections and create leaders who will answer to the Nigerian people.

Indeed, but you cannot stop Nigerian politics from using money. Money is a crucial component in any political environment, after all. Here, money is utilized as an inducement, but consider the enormous amount spent on the U.S. presidential election. To what extent does that benefit our democratic culture?

I heard your first news report, in which one of the parties claimed that the funds were intended for logistics. Remember that it’s only election day, and that’s around 25 million people. At a time when Nigerians are struggling to afford even one meal a day, you have one person or even a political organization with that much money. It’s unclear if it’s for logistics or vote buying, but it also indicates how costly it is. Therefore, for example, if a political party or candidate has 200 polling places in a certain constituency, you must send party agents to those polling places. You must reimburse the party agents. All of them need a lot of logistics, but on election day, you cannot have one person with that much money and not raise suspicions. These are the essential questions that we must thus pose. On election day, why do you have more than N25 million to give to your party agents? There are alternative distribution methods. You have the ability to make transfers. It was also necessary to perform those sooner. Yes, we do require a comprehensive investigation by the security authorities. However, if it is proven that this is for vote buying, you must prove two things because you are aware that it is illegal. We use the terms “actus reus and mens rea” in law. The conduct, the intention, and the standard of proof will all be taken into consideration. However, the fact that the security forces detained wealthy people not only in Kaduna State but also in Ogun or Oyo State is encouraging. It proves that we’re becoming better.

Having an electoral tribunal to review incidents like these election-related frauds, however, does not appear to be a progress. Would it contribute to the development of Nigeria’s democratic culture?

According to others, INEC’s prosecution responsibilities under the electoral act is the reason we haven’t been able to prosecute election offenses.

However, the key question is whether bribery is classified as a criminal offense under the criminal and penal codes. If you disturb the peace, many of the offenses that we classify as electoral offenses are already crimes that have been established in our penal law. As INEC claims that these tasks are stifling it, why must we burden it with the ongoing prosecution of electoral offenders? Therefore, the establishment of an electoral offenses commission is imperative. I’m all with that. Nonetheless, a number of precautions must be taken. Firstly, the Attorney General of the Federation should not have any authority over the commission’s operational activities. The Attorney General of the Federation’s constitutional authority to suspend criminal proceedings and conduct internal prosecutions must be eliminated in regard to election offenses. In order to safeguard the prosecution of electoral criminals, other necessary steps must be performed in addition to the creation of an electoral offenses commission. Nevertheless, there is general impunity if electoral criminals are not prosecuted. And the big question is that, as one of the lawmakers mentioned to me a few weeks ago, we are the ones who commit these electoral offenses. Specifically, we are referring to the political class, who not only commit these crimes but are also the ones who draft legislation. In all honesty, do you think they’ll create rules that contradict themselves? It isn’t feasible. These, then, are the problems.