By Abubakar Yunusa
The Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN) has raised concerns over what it described as persistent political interference in the nation’s petroleum industry.
Speaking in Abuja at the 4th PENGASSAN and Labour Summit 2025, the association’s president, Festus Osifo, called for urgent reforms to ensure efficiency in refinery operations.
Osifo proposed that Nigeria’s refineries should adopt a model similar to the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas (NLNG), where the government maintains minority ownership while private operators with technical expertise manage majority stakes.
He argued that despite the competence of Nigerian oil workers, inadequate tools and undue political influence have continued to cripple the performance of the refineries.
The PENGASSAN president commended the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) for driving transparency in the upstream sector.
He said reforms introduced by the regulator had enhanced accountability and strengthened the industry.
“As the regulator of the upstream oil and gas sector, your industry is strong because you have consistently proven your commitment to reforms,” Osifo noted.
Responding, NUPRC’s Chief Executive, Gbenga Komolafe, revealed that the Commission had concluded a case-by-case review of marginal fields licences due for renewal.
He explained that operators must meet specific milestones under existing laws before their licences can be renewed, adding that the process would remain merit-based and transparent.
“It doesn’t necessarily mean all award terms must be met at once,” Komolafe said.
“The Petroleum Industry Act has clearly organised the process on a milestone basis, and we are applying that principle field by field.”
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