President Bola Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm two new chief executives to lead Nigeria’s critical petroleum regulatory bodies, following the resignation of their predecessors who were appointed under the previous administration.
The nominations, announced on Tuesday through a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, seek to fill vacancies at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Both positions became vacant after the departure of Gbenga Komolafe and Farouk Ahmed, who were initially appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to oversee the two regulatory agencies established under the Petroleum Industry Act.
President Tinubu has nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan for the role of Chief Executive Officer at NUPRC, whilst Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed has been put forward to head the NMDPRA. According to the presidency, both nominees bring extensive experience from decades of service within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Eyesan, who holds a degree in Economics from the University of Benin, dedicated nearly 33 years to the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. Her most recent position was Executive Vice President for Upstream operations, a role she held from 2023 to 2024. Before that appointment, she served as Group General Manager for Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC between 2019 and 2023, positioning her with comprehensive knowledge of the upstream petroleum sector’s operational and strategic frameworks.
Engineer Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe State, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering. His career trajectory includes senior management positions across various segments of Nigeria’s petroleum industry. He previously served as Managing Director of both Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, roles that provided him with intimate knowledge of downstream and midstream operations.
The nominee’s leadership extended to chairmanship of several boards, including the West African Gas Pipeline Company and subsidiaries of Nigeria LNG. As Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of the Gas and Power Directorate, Engineer Mohammed contributed to the development of critical policy instruments such as the Gas Masterplan and the Gas Network Code, whilst also playing a role in shaping aspects of the Petroleum Industry Act itself.
His involvement in major infrastructure projects includes the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train projects. On Tuesday, Seplat Energy announced his appointment as an independent non-executive director, demonstrating continued confidence in his expertise within the private sector.
The Petroleum Industry Act, which came into force in 2021, restructured Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory framework by creating two distinct regulatory bodies from the former Department of Petroleum Resources. The NUPRC oversees exploration and production activities in the upstream sector, whilst the NMDPRA regulates midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including refining, transportation, and distribution.
The Senate’s confirmation of these nominees will be crucial for maintaining continuity in the regulation of Nigeria’s petroleum sector, which remains the country’s primary source of foreign exchange and government revenue. The industry has faced numerous challenges in recent years, including concerns over production levels, regulatory compliance, and investment attraction.
President Tinubu’s request for expedited confirmation suggests the administration’s recognition of the importance of swift action in filling these key regulatory positions. The petroleum sector’s stability depends significantly on effective oversight and clear regulatory guidance, particularly as Nigeria seeks to maximise revenue from its hydrocarbon resources whilst transitioning towards greater gas utilisation and cleaner energy sources.
