society
KOMOLAFE’S ENDURING LEGACIES IN GLOBAL OIL REFORMS
*KOMOLAFE’S ENDURING LEGACIES IN GLOBAL OIL REFORMS
By Charles Matthew
The name Engineer Gbenga Komolafe keeps resonating with technical precision, depth of influence, and administrative innovation in the growing narrative of Africa’s quest for sustainable development and global relevance within the petroleum ecosystem. As the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), his emergence as a central figure in today’s global energy reforms stems from dedicated years of institutional knowledge, regulatory rectitude, and unassailable patriotism.
It is no surprise that the Nigeria of today has repositioned itself prominently on the global energy map under the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu.
The recognition the Pan-African Parliament bestowed upon him in a recent session was not an act of vain appraisal, but the formal acknowledgment of a man who has become an intellectual lighthouse guiding the continent through a complex energy transition era.
When AFRIPERF identified him as a competent individual sufficiently equipped both in moral stature and technical acumen to pilot Africa’s unified policy direction for sustainable energy frameworks, it was a welcoming announcement greeted by ovation in consensus across academic and diplomatic circles.
When he strode through the grand halls of the House of Lords in London, within the Palace of Westminster in the United Kingdom, to receive the Global Sustainable Leadership Award at the 2025 Global Sustainable Education and Leadership (G-SEL) Conference and a professional doctorate in Leadership (Energy Law) from the International Business School of Scandinavia, the ovation of his recognition was for Nigeria as a whole.
The world was recognizing a reform-driven and technically grounded confident Nigerian voice.
This is happening at a time when some voices in the international space attempt to distort Nigeria’s true narrative by amplifying negative perceptions while ignoring the quiet but powerful work of reformers who are reconstructing governance institutions.
While the media is flooded with President Trump’s broad and dismissive remarks about Nigeria, Komolafe’s strides and those of several distinguished Nigerians demonstrate a different reality that speaks volumes of economic recalibration, international cooperation, and building investor confidence.
This emerging truth is evident: Nigeria is not defined by how loud the voice of criticism is, but by the constructive labour of its united visionaries. In this regard, Komolafe’s leadership in NUPRC stands as the clearest manifestation of true leadership.
The appreciation of Komolafe’s legacy can be drawn from his magnanimous contributions in the broader context of Nigeria’s tumultuous history with the petroleum sector. To better understand this, it is important to note that Nigeria’s oil sector has been marred by decades of community conflicts, vandalism, rent-seeking behavior, and regulatory ambiguity.
Both local and multinational operators were handicapped by bureaucratic contradictions. Despite the bulk contributions of communities in oil-producing regions to the nation’s primary revenue, they lived in anger and deprivation, and Nigeria suffered numerous policy reversals that created an unpredictable atmosphere stunting investments for decades.
To address all these, the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 came to the rescue, marking a legislative watershed moment. The need for a competent hand to translate such a profound law into a functioning system brought the appointment of Engineer Gbenga Komolafe, one that came at a critical inflection point.
His task was monumental and clearly defined: rebuild confidence, restore order, deepen transparency, and reinvigorate Nigeria’s upstream sector in line with global best practices. On this note, he went to work immediately with a structured strategy anchored on three priorities—transparency, competitiveness, and sustainability—with an emphasis on maximising the value of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources while advancing the energy transition.
The results: an empirical reality. Under Komolafe’s leadership, Nigeria’s active rig counts increased from 8 in 2021 to over 40 rigs, and presently stand at a total of 69 rigs as of October 2025. This shows that the petroleum sector is active, undergoing a healing phase, and now reviving investor confidence.
In addition, the revenue figures are verified. The NUPRC did not just meet government targets in revenue performance; it surpassed them consistently, with the Commission achieving surpluses of 18.3 per cent in 2022, 14.6 per cent in 2023, and an unprecedented milestone of 84.2 per cent in 2024.
The PIA introduced the Host Community Development Trust (HCDT) as a framework for restoring peace to the oil-producing communities of Nigeria that have historically experienced consistent cycles of exploitation, environmental neglect, and conflict. It further served as a mechanism for structured development funding and local empowerment.
Today, it is on record that the Host Community Development Trust has risen to over ₦350 billion, part of which has been used in implementing lofty projects like funding schools, healthcare facilities, road rehabilitation, water supply systems, security patrols, and youth empowerment schemes, which have contributed to the restoration of peace in hitherto volatile communities.
The most profound legacy here is “restored dignity.” Where previously, oil-bearing communities negotiated development as charity, now they operate within a codified framework of statutory entitlement.
Right now, the world is shifting away from hydrocarbons and gradually transitioning to renewable energy sources. Even though this global movement is uneven at the moment, it calls for nations to balance environmental obligations with economic realities. Komolafe’s leadership has also proven indispensable in this aspect.
At international forums, he has emphasized a rational transition, but not abrupt abandonment. He argues for energy justice, which insists that African nations, still developing, must not be coerced into sacrificing development in the name of a transition engineered and financed by countries whose own industrialization was built on fossil fuels.
This clarity has elevated Nigeria’s voice from the periphery of global climate conversations to the negotiating table of strategic policy formulation. The philosophy of President Tinubu’s administration is often summarized in one governance phrase: “A Practical Reform for Sustainable National Revival.”
Komolafe has translated this meaningful philosophy from mere vision into real outcomes in the petroleum sector. Undoubtedly, the NUPRC under Komolafe has delivered a powerful governance success with remarkable clarity.
This is why his recent international recognition is not merely a personal milestone but a validation of the Renewed Hope Agenda as a functional governance blueprint.
It is clear that Komolafe has not only managed the upstream sector; he has reforged its professional work ethics and economic yield.
As the world continues to celebrate him for his redefined integrity, reinforced national dignity, and championed continental voice, the applause that echoed from London to Addis Ababa, from Abuja to Johannesburg, and across multilateral energy circles are results that were well deserved, sustained, and justified.
His legacy is not frozen in plaques, certificates, and award speeches. It is active, dynamic, and continually expanding. At a time when some would define Nigeria by pessimism, Komolafe stands as living testimony that Nigeria is rising structurally, methodically, and irreversibly. Engineer Gbenga Komolafe is building legacies and shaping history.
Matthew writes from Abuja
society
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Ramadan: Adron Homes Felicitates Muslims, Preaches Hope and Unity
Adron Homes & Properties Limited has congratulated Muslim faithful on the commencement of the holy month of Ramadan, urging Nigerians to embrace the virtues of sacrifice, discipline, and compassion that define the season.
In a statement made available to journalists, the company described Ramadan as a period of deep reflection, spiritual renewal, and strengthened devotion to faith and humanity.
According to the management, the holy month represents values that align with the organisation’s commitment to integrity, resilience, and community development.
“Ramadan is a time that teaches patience, generosity, and selflessness. As our Muslim customers and partners begin the fast, we pray that their sacrifices are accepted and that the season brings peace, joy, and renewed hope to their homes and the nation at large,” the statement read.
The firm reaffirmed its dedication to providing affordable and accessible housing solutions to Nigerians, noting that building homes goes beyond structures to creating environments where families can thrive.
Adron Homes further urged citizens to use the period to pray for national unity, economic stability, and sustainable growth.
It wished all Muslim faithful a spiritually fulfilling Ramadan.
Ramadan Mubarak.
society
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence By George Omagbemi Sylvester
Underfunding National Security: Envelope Budgeting Fails Nigeria’s Defence
By George Omagbemi Sylvester | Published by saharaweeklyng.com
“Fiscal Rigidity in a Time of Crisis: Lawmakers Say Fixed Budget Ceilings Are Crippling Nigeria’s Fight Against Insurgency, Banditry, and Organized Crime.”
Nigeria’s legislature has issued a stark warning: the envelope budgeting system; a fiscal model that caps spending for ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs) is inadequate to meet the country’s escalating security challenges. Lawmakers and budget analysts argue that rigid fiscal ceilings are undermining the nation’s ability to confront insurgency, banditry, kidnapping, separatist violence, oil theft and maritime insecurity.
The warning emerged during the 2026 budget defence session for the Office of the National Security Adviser (ONSA) at the National Assembly in Abuja. Senator Yahaya Abdullahi (APC‑Kebbi North), chairman of the Senate Committee on National Security and Intelligence, decried the envelope system, noting that security agencies “have been subject to the vagaries of the envelope system rather than to genuine needs and requirements.” The committee highlighted non-release or partial release of capital funds from previous budgets, which has hindered procurement, intelligence and operational capacity.
Nigeria faces a multi‑front security crisis: persistent insurgency in the North‑East, banditry and kidnappings across the North‑West and North‑Central, separatist tensions in the South‑East, and piracy affecting Niger Delta oil production. Despite declarations of a national security emergency by President Bola Tinubu, lawmakers point to a “disconnect” between rhetoric and the actual fiscal support for agencies tasked with enforcement.
Experts warn that security operations demand flexibility and rapid resource allocation. Dr. Amina Bello, a public finance specialist, said: “A static budget in a dynamic threat environment is like sending firefighters with water jugs to a forest fire. You need flexibility, not fixed ceilings, to adapt to unforeseen developments.”
The Permanent Secretary of Special Services at ONSA, Mohammed Sanusi, detailed operational consequences: irregular overhead releases, unfulfilled capital appropriations, and constrained foreign service funds. These fiscal constraints have weakened intelligence and covert units, hampering surveillance, cyber‑security, counter‑terrorism and intelligence sharing.
Delayed capital releases have stalled critical projects, including infrastructure upgrades and surveillance systems. Professor Kolawole Adeyemi, a governance expert, emphasized that “budgeting for security must allow for rapid reallocation in response to threats that move faster than political cycles. Envelope budgeting lacks this essential flexibility.”
While the National Assembly advocates fiscal discipline, lawmakers stress that security funding requires strategic responsiveness. Speaker Abbas Ibrahim underscored that security deserves “prominent and sustained attention” in the 2026 budget, balancing oversight with operational needs.
In response, the Senate committee plans to pursue reforms, including collaboration with the executive to restructure funding, explore supplementary budgets and ensure predictable and sufficient resources for security agencies. Experts warn that without reform, criminal networks will exploit these gaps, eroding public trust.
As one policy analyst summarized: “A nation declares a security emergency; but if its budget does not follow with real resources and oversight, the emergency remains rhetorical.” Nigeria’s debate over envelope budgeting is more than an accounting dispute; it is a contest over the nation’s security priorities and its commitment to safeguarding citizens.
society
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin) Celebrates as She Marks Her Birthday
Today, the world and the body of Christ rise in celebration of a rare vessel of honour, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba, fondly known as Eritosin, as she marks her birthday.
Born a special child with a divine mark of grace, Rev. Mother Eritosin’s journey in God’s vineyard spans several decades of steadfast service, spiritual depth, and undeniable impact. Those who know her closely describe her as a prophetess with a heart of gold — a woman whose calling is not worn as a title, but lived daily through compassion, discipline, humility, and unwavering faith.
From her early days in ministry, she has touched lives across communities, offering spiritual guidance, prophetic insight, and motherly counsel. Many testify that through her prayers and teachings, they encountered God in a deeply personal and transformative way. Near and far, her influence continues to echo — not only within church walls, but in homes, families, and destinies reshaped through her mentorship.
A mother in every sense of the word, Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba embodies nurture and correction in equal measure. As a grandmother, she remains energetic in purpose — accommodating the wayward, embracing the rejected, and holding firmly to the belief that no soul is beyond redemption. Her life’s mission has remained consistent: to lead many to Christ and guide them into the light of a new beginning.
Deeply rooted within the C&S Unification, she stands tall as a spiritual pillar in the Cherubim and Seraphim Church globally. Her dedication to holiness, unity, and prophetic service has earned her widespread respect as a spiritual matriarch whose voice carries both authority and humility.
As she celebrates another year today, tributes continue to pour in from spiritual sons and daughters, church leaders, and admirers who see in her a living reflection of grace in action.
Prayer for Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin)
May the Almighty God, who called you from birth and anointed you for His service, continually strengthen you with divine health and renewed vigour.
May your oil never run dry, and may your prophetic mantle grow heavier with greater glory.
May the lives you have nurtured rise to call you blessed.
May your latter years be greater than the former, filled with peace, honour, and the visible rewards of your labour in God’s vineyard.
May heaven continually back your prayers, and may your light shine brighter across nations.
Happy Birthday to a true Mother in Israel — Rev. Mother Kehinde Osoba (Eritosin).
More years.
More anointing.
More impact.
If you want this adapted for a newspaper page, church bulletin, Facebook post, or birthday flyer, just tell me the format and tone.
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