Senate Confirms New Heads for Nigeria’s Top Oil Regulators

By Emmanuel Kwada 

The Nigerian Senate on Friday confirmed the appointments of two seasoned oil and gas professionals to head the country’s pivotal petroleum regulatory bodies, signaling a fresh chapter for the upstream and midstream/downstream sectors.

Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan has been confirmed as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), while Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed takes the helm as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The confirmations, which followed a recommendation from the Joint Committees on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream, and Gas), came just days after President Bola Tinubu forwarded the nominations to the Senate.

The process was notably expedited, with screening occurring on Thursday and final approval granted at plenary on Friday within roughly 48 hours of the President’s request.

These appointments fill vacancies created by the recent resignations of the previous heads: Engr. Gbenga Komolafe from NUPRC and Engr. Farouk Ahmed from NMDPRA. Ahmed’s departure followed high-profile corruption allegations leveled by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, who accused the former NMDPRA chief of economic sabotage, abuse of office, and illicit enrichment.

Komolafe’s resignation, announced alongside Ahmed’s, was described by the Presidency as a step to ensure continuity in the sector.

During their screening, both nominees outlined ambitious visions for reform. Eyesan, a veteran with nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), where she retired as Executive Vice President (Upstream), pledged to prioritize technology driven regulation, credible data management, and stronger stakeholder collaboration to address industry challenges.

Mohammed, a chemical engineer with extensive experience in gas infrastructure projects including the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline Expansion and Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline assured senators that the NMDPRA would enforce strict standards to protect local refineries, restore supply chain discipline, and boost investor confidence.

The swift confirmations underscore the government’s urgency to stabilize Nigeria’s oil and gas regulation under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, amid ongoing efforts to enhance domestic refining, attract investment, and maximize revenue from the critical sector.

The new CEOs are expected to assume office immediately, as the nation watches for impacts on energy policy and local production.