President of the Host Communities of Nigeria Producing Oil and Gas (HOSTCOM), Dr. Benjamin Style Tamaranebi, has congratulated the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Engr. Gbenga Komolafe on his 61st birthday.
Dr. Tamaranebi commended his transformative leadership in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
In his message, Dr. Tamaranebi applauded Engr. Komolafe for his outstanding contributions to the upstream petroleum sector, noting that his leadership over the last three years has resulted in significant reforms that have elevated the industry to new heights.
A hallmark of his tenure is his commitment to improving host community relations, particularly through the implementation of Host Community Development Regulations.
Dr. Tamaranebi highlighted key achievements under Engr. Komolafe’s leadership, including the creation of Alternative Dispute Resolution Centres (ADRC) in Yenagoa, Bayelsa State, to address community-related issues, and the establishment of response centers in all oil-producing states to manage Host Community Development Trusts.
“These initiatives, according to Dr. Tamaranebi, have fostered trust and improved collaboration between the Commission and host communities.
“Furthermore, Engr. Komolafe has consistently advocated for oil companies to fulfill their obligation of remitting 3% of their annual operational expenditure (OPEX) to host communities, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
“Over 200 billion Naira has already been paid into the Host Community Development Trusts, a significant achievement that underscores the Commission’s commitment to transparency and fairness.”
Dr. Tamaranebi also praised the introduction of the HOSTCOMPLY initiative, which promotes sustainability and transparency in the management of community resources.
“Under Engr. Komolafe’s leadership, Nigeria’s oil production has increased to 1.8 million barrels per day, a significant improvement aimed at meeting domestic energy needs and boosting local refining.
As he celebrated Engr. Komolafe’s birthday, Dr. Tamaranebi expressed his prayers for continued wisdom and strength for the Commission Chief Executive, reaffirming HOSTCOM’s commitment to supporting the Commission’s vision for host communities.
“We wish Engr. Gbenga Komolafe a happy 61st birthday and continued success in his leadership of the petroleum industry,” Dr. Tamaranebi concluded.