In a major shake-up of Nigeria’s energy sector, the chief executives of the nation’s two pivotal petroleum regulatory agencies have resigned. President Bola Tinubu has swiftly moved to nominate their replacements, seeking urgent Senate confirmation.
The resignations of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), were confirmed in a statement by presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga. Both officials were appointed in 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari following the creation of their agencies by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
President Tinubu has nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the new Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Engr. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new CEO of the NMDPRA. The President’s requests for their confirmation have been transmitted to the Senate.
👤 Profile of the Nominees
The nominees bring decades of combined experience from within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and the broader energy industry:
· Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan (NUPRC Nominee): An economics graduate from the University of Benin, Eyesan spent nearly 33 years at NNPC. Her most recent role was Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and she previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy (2019–2023).
· Engr. Saidu Mohammed (NMDPRA Nominee): A 1981 Chemical Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Mohammed’s career includes leadership roles as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. He also served as Group Executive Director for Gas & Power, where he provided strategic oversight for major projects like the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline.
This leadership change comes amid significant challenges in the sector, including recent allegations of corruption and sabotage made by the Dangote Group against the NMDPRA, which its former CEO had denied. The resignations and swift nominations signal the administration’s intent to stabilize and re-focus the nation’s critical petroleum regulatory framework.
Disclaimer: This article is based on an official statement from the Presidency and reports from credible news sources. CDA News Nigeria reports this developing story for public information. The motivations for the resignations are as stated by official sources.
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