President Bola Tinubu has forwarded new nominees to the Senate for confirmation as heads of Nigeria’s upstream and downstream petroleum regulators following the resignations of Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe.
In letters sent to the Senate, Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan was nominated as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), while Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed was nominated to lead the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The resignations come amid heightened scrutiny of sector governance, following a public dispute between Mr Ahmed and Dangote Group President Aliko Dangote over downstream regulation. Dangote had accused the NMDPRA leadership of undermining local refining by continuing to issue petroleum import licences and alleged collusion with foreign traders.
Dangote also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Mr Ahmed for allegedly spending over $7 million on his children’s education abroad without verifiable lawful income. The ICPC confirmed it had received the petition and will investigate the matter.
Lawmakers have also weighed in. The House of Representatives resolved to probe both the allegations against the former NMDPRA chief and the issuance of petrol import licences, warning that unresolved disputes could disrupt fuel supply and hurt investor confidence during the festive season.
The Presidency said the nominations were aimed at ensuring continuity in petroleum sector regulation. Ms Eyesan, an Economics graduate of the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) and retired in 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream. Engineer Mohammed, a Chemical Engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, previously served as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company, with extensive experience in the oil and gas sector.
The Senate is expected to consider the nominations in the coming days, while investigations into the allegations against the former NMDPRA chief continue.
