Our Reporter, Abuja
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to approve new appointments to lead Nigeria’s key petroleum regulatory agencies, following the resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The resignations, announced on Wednesday, mark the end of tenures that began in 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, when both agencies were established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
In letters sent to the Senate, President Tinubu nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA. Both nominees bring decades of experience in the oil and gas sector. Eyesan, an Economics graduate from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years with NNPC and its subsidiaries, most recently serving as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024). Engineer Mohammed, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, has previously helmed Kaduna Refining & Petrochemical Company, Nigerian Gas Company, and served on the boards of several major oil and gas entities.
Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, described the nominees as “seasoned professionals capable of steering Nigeria’s oil and gas sector towards greater efficiency and compliance with the Petroleum Industry Act.”
The reshuffle comes amid heightened scrutiny of Nigeria’s oil sector. Billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote recently accused Farouk Ahmed of corruption, alleging mismanagement and opaque practices during his tenure. While the claims have yet to be formally investigated, they have fueled calls for stronger regulatory oversight and transparency in the country’s energy industry.
Senate confirmation is expected in the coming weeks, with both nominees likely to assume office shortly after approval.
