President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sought the immediate approval of the Senate for the appointment of two new chief executives to lead Nigeria’s primary petroleum regulatory bodies, following the voluntary resignations of the former heads. The move is aimed at ensuring stability and continuity in the country’s crucial oil and gas sector amid significant governance challenges.
In a letter dispatched to the Senate, President Tinubu requested the expedited confirmation of Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The appointments succeed the exit of Engr. Farouk Ahmed from the NMDPRA and Mr. Gbenga Komolafe from the NUPRC.
The two nominees are seasoned professionals whose careers span decades across the oil and gas industry. Mrs. Eyesan, an Economics graduate, brings nearly 33 years of experience from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. She recently retired as the Executive Vice President, Upstream, serving in that capacity until 2024, and had previously guided strategic policy as the Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy. Her background is expected to anchor reforms in Nigeria’s exploration and production segment.
Similarly, the NMDPRA nominee, Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, possesses extensive leadership experience across Nigeria’s gas and refining sectors. A chemical engineer, Mr. Mohammed previously held significant roles including Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. Notably, he was pivotal in the development and implementation of key policy frameworks, including the Gas Master Plan and the Gas Network Code, and contributed to shaping the foundational principles of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). His mandate is anticipated to focus on stabilizing the domestic market, particularly in light of the ongoing push for local refining capacity.
The urgency of these nominations is underscored by the controversy surrounding the departure of Engineer Farouk Ahmed. His resignation as the NMDPRA head followed a high-profile public dispute initiated by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote. Mr. Dangote formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the former regulator of living far beyond his legitimate means as a public servant. The central allegation cited millions of dollars allegedly spent on the foreign education of his children in Switzerland, an expenditure that, according to the accusers, was inconsistent with his official income. Ahmed has, however, publicly welcomed a comprehensive probe, maintaining that the tuition costs were largely covered by merit-based scholarships, an established family trust fund, and legitimate career savings.
Beyond the personal finance scandal, the core conflict highlighted structural issues within the sector. Dangote, whose private refinery represents a strategic national asset, simultaneously accused the NMDPRA leadership of engaging in “economic sabotage” by allegedly prioritizing the continued issuance of petroleum import licenses. This regulatory action, Dangote argued, served to undermine local refining capacity and sustain Nigeria’s reliance on foreign fuel sources, thereby frustrating the objectives of the Petroleum Industry Act. By appointing technocrats with deep experience in sector development and policy, President Tinubu is positioning his administration to restore regulatory integrity and decisively align the leadership of the NUPRC and NMDPRA with his broader economic agenda of energy independence and anti-corruption reform.
