By Amofokhai Williams
In a significant overhaul of Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory framework, President Bola Tinubu has nominated two seasoned industry veterans to lead the country’s key petroleum oversight bodies, following the abrupt resignations of their incumbents.
The departures of Engineer Farouk Ahmed from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Engineer Gbenga Komolafe from the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) mark the end of an era for the agencies established under the landmark Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga announced the changes in a statement today, emphasizing that President Tinubu has forwarded the nominations to the Senate for expedited confirmation.
The nominees are Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA.
The timing of Ahmed’s resignation has drawn particular attention, coming amid intense scrutiny over allegations of corruption raised by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, chairman of the Dangote Group.
Reports indicate that Dangote recently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing Ahmed of misappropriating public funds, including claims of extravagant spending on his children’s education abroad.
While the official statement cites only “resignation,” sources suggest mounting pressure contributed to Ahmed’s exit.
Komolafe’s departure, by contrast, appears less publicly contentious, though both leaders have faced broader criticisms over regulatory performance in a sector plagued by challenges like fuel subsidy reforms and refinery disputes.
The nominees bring decades of hands-on experience from the heart of Nigeria’s oil industry.
Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, a University of Benin economics graduate, spent nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC), rising to Executive Vice President, Upstream, before her recent retirement.
Her tenure included pivotal roles in corporate planning, strategy, and upstream operations, where she contributed to major initiatives like deepwater production-sharing contract renewals and equity acquisitions in domestic refineries.
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, a 1981 chemical engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, boasts over 37 years in the sector.
His distinguished career at NNPC included serving as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Group Executive Director for Gas and Power.
Mohammed played instrumental roles in flagship gas infrastructure projects, such as the Escravos-Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta-Kaduna-Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and contributions to the PIA itself.
This leadership transition occurs against the backdrop of President Tinubu’s aggressive reforms aimed at revitalizing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Africa’s largest producer.
