1 hour ago
1
The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) has named the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) as the top-performing agency in its 2025 integrity assessment.
NUPRC topped the ranking with a score of 91.83, ahead of the Nigeria Deposit Insurance Corporation (NDIC) and the Asset Management Corporation of Nigeria (AMCON).
In its Ethics and Integrity Compliance Scorecard (EICS) report, the ICPC also identified 13 ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) as having a “high corruption risk” following an evaluation of organisational policies, internal controls and adherence to statutory requirements.
Commenting on the ranking, the Energy Accountability and Governance Network (EAGN) said NUPRC’s emergence as the highest-ranked agency among the 357 MDAs assessed highlighted the effectiveness of the internal governance framework instituted under the leadership of its Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe.
The oil sector accountability group said the achievement was the outcome of sustained reforms aimed at strengthening institutional discipline, enhancing transparency and aligning upstream petroleum regulation with international best practices.
According to a statement signed by its Executive Director, Dr Abdulrahman Sadiq, the ICPC recognition was the result of leadership that placed strong emphasis on accountability, due process and compliance with the law.
He noted that Komolafe’s tenure was characterised by strengthened compliance structures, improved internal audit systems and a clear separation between regulatory responsibilities and discretionary influence.
EAGN added that the integrity ranking boosts Nigeria’s appeal to international investors, particularly in the upstream oil and gas sector, where regulatory certainty and ethical governance are key considerations for long-term investments.
The group urged the current management of NUPRC to sustain the standards that earned the commission its top position, cautioning that any decline could undermine investor confidence and weaken regulatory performance.
“It is crucial for the present leadership to maintain the integrity of the existing systems. A strong and transparent regulator is essential for revenue optimisation and long-term stability in the upstream petroleum sector,” Sadiq said.
The ICPC explained that the EICS, alongside the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Units’ Effectiveness Index, was developed to encourage ethical conduct across MDAs, strengthen oversight and serve as a benchmark for public sector accountability.
