PRESIDENT Bola Tinubu has moved swiftly to appoint new leaders for Nigeria’s two main petroleum regulatory bodies, following the sudden resignations of their chiefs, Engr. Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe.
Oil giant magnate, Aliko Dangote, had accused Ahmed of financial impropriety, challenging him to explain to the world how he trained his four children in a secondary school abroad with a whopping sum of $5 million.
In a formal request to the Senate on Wednesday, the President nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
He urged the upper legislative house to expedite their confirmation.
The resignations of Ahmed and Komolafe, who were appointed by former President Muhammadu Buhari in 2021 to head the agencies established by the landmark Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), mark a significant shake-up in the nation’s critical energy sector.
Their departures come amidst a period of intense scrutiny, particularly for the NMDPRA, following recent high-profile allegations from Aliko Dangote regarding regulatory practices in the downstream sector.
The President’s nominations aim to install seasoned industry veterans. Ms. Eyesan brings nearly 33 years of experience from the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and its subsidiaries, having recently retired as Executive Vice President for Upstream operations.
Engr. Mohammed, a 1981 Chemical Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, is a recognised figure in the industry.
His extensive career includes managing directorships of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company.
He also played a key strategic role in major gas infrastructure projects and policy development, including contributions to the PIA.
His appointment was announced just today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.
In a press release signed by President Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency stated that both nominees are “seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.”
The statement did not elaborate on the reasons behind the resignations of the outgoing chiefs.
The Senate is now expected to commence screening processes for the two nominees promptly, as the government seeks to ensure stability and clear leadership in its petroleum regulatory framework during a period of significant challenge and reform.
