Gbenga Komolafe

Gbenga Olu Komolafe (born 1963) is a Nigerian engineer, lawyer and petroleum and gas industry expert. Appointed in 2021, he currently serves as the pioneer chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC.[1][2][3] He served at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) in various capacities including  as group general manager, Special Duties, group general manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division and executive director (commercial) Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC). He is credited for formulating several strategic policies including electronic tracking of petroleum products distribution nationwide. Komolafe is a Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers and a member of the Nigerian Bar Association.[4][5]

Background and education

Gbenga Komolafe was born in 1963 in Igbara-Oke, Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State, Nigeria. He had his primary and secondary education in Ondo State before proceeding to University of Ilorin where he earned a bachelor's degree in engineering in 1987.[4] He earned master's degrees in industrial and labour relations (M.I.L.R.) in 1995 and industrial and production engineering in 1998 from the University of Ibadan before enrolling at the University of Benin where he earned a law degree in 2006. He attended Nigerian Law School, Bwari, Abuja and was called to the Nigerian Bar in 2008. He attended International Petroleum Management Certificate Programme, Boston and International Gas Business Management Certificate Programme, Offshore Training Conference (OTC), Houston, Texas. Komolafe is a member of the Nigerian Bar Association and a Fellow of Nigerian Society of Engineers and Council of Registered Engineers of Nigeria (COREN).[6][7]

Career

Komolafe served in several policy making positions in the Nigerian oil and gas industry. From 2012 to 2014, he served as executive director (Commercial) Pipelines and Petroleum Marketing Company (PPMC) and was general manager operations Petroleum Equalization Fund where he introduced policies including electronic tracking of petroleum products for effective distribution to inner parts of the country.[8] He was general manager, Operations of the Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), group general manager, Crude Oil Marketing Division and group general manager, Special Duties at the NNPC.

NUPRC

After the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) came into force in 2021, President Muhammadu Buhari nominated Komolafe as the inaugural chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, NUPRC and was confirmed by the Senate in September same year.[9][10][11] He is a vocal advocate of Smart Petroleum Governance and has introduced several policies focused on advancing use of technology in the operation of Nigerian upstream oil and gas sector. He modernized oil licensing process and introduced policies that promote environmental sustainability including reduction of gas flaring to 7.16%  scaling up average oil production per day and improved security to prevent large scale oil theft at production and export terminals.[12] His security initiatives reduced oil theft and increased Nigeria’s crude oil production from below 1 million barrel per day to over 1.6 million barrels per day. He introduced Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Measurement Regulations and the Advanced Cargo Declaration Regulation which improved monitoring and accountability.[13][14]

References

  1. ^ AriseNews (2023-09-28). "Tinubu Rejoices With NUPRC CEO, Gbenga Komolafe, At 60". Arise News. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  2. ^ "Gbenga Komolafe has required experience to lead upstream commission, says analyst". TheCable. 2021-09-23. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  3. ^ "Komolafe to head new upstream petroleum commission - Daily Trust". dailytrust.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  4. ^ a b Emewu, Ikenna (2021-09-23). "Story of Gbenga Komolafe, the man suitable for his calling at nation's Upstream Petroleum Commission". AFRICA CHINA ECONOMY. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  5. ^ Etuka, Sunday; Abuja (2023-08-02). "Real Reason PENGASSAN Barricaded NUPRC Headquarters -Engr. Komolafe - TheFact Daily". Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  6. ^ "Gbenga Komolafe: Reforming NUPRC, One Step at a Time - THISDAYLIVE". www.thisdaylive.com. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  7. ^ "Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, FNSE: Commission Chief Executive, Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission - Valuechain". 2023-01-02. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  8. ^ "Engr Komolafe on the Radar of Silent Achievements at the NUPRC – The Telescope". 2022-12-10. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  9. ^ Emmanson, Jerry (2023-08-03). "CSOs Pass Vote Of Confidence On NUPRC Leadership". Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  10. ^ "Allegations Of Fraud: NUPRC Absolves Komolafe Of Any Wrongdoings – Independent Newspaper Nigeria". independent.ng. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  11. ^ chuks (2023-08-14). "PENGASSAN wants NUPRC CEO sacked". SweetCrudeReports. Retrieved 2023-10-16.
  12. ^ "Tinubu Felicitates NUPRC CEO, Gbenga Komolafe on 62nd Birthday – THISDAYLIVE". Retrieved 2025-11-22.
  13. ^ Agila, Okanga (6 February 2025). "Komolafe and his uncommon leadership at NUPRC". Daily Trust. Retrieved 22 November 2025.
  14. ^ Erezi, Dennis (2025-08-19). "Revolutionising Nigeria's energy future: The Gbenga Komolafe story". The Guardian Nigeria News - Nigeria and World News. Retrieved 2025-11-22.
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