Senate Confirms Upstream Regulatory Commission Board Members

…As It Replaces DPR

NIGERIA’S Senate has confirmed the appointment of new board members of Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission (NURC).

The upper legislative chamber did the confirmation of the nominees on Wednesday after consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources.

This is part of activities towards implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act signed into law in August by President Muhammadu Buhari.

The nominees confirmed for appointment include Isa Modibbo, Chairman; Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive; Hassan Gambo, Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts; and Rose Ndong, Executive Commissioner, Exploration and Acreage Management.

Commenting on the process leading to the confirmation, Chairman of the Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Senator Albert Akpan, explained that the nominees demonstrated sufficient knowledge of issues in the petroleum industry, especially the upstream petroleum sector, adding that appointments of the nominees satisfied the requirements of Sections 11 and 18 (1 to 5) of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The NURC is to replace the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).

Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, stated that the confirmation of the NURC board has automatically led to the scrapping of the DPR, adding that the new agency will take over DPR’s statutory responsibilities.

Lawan also noted that the establishment of the NURC was in line with the provisions of the PIA geared towards boosting activities in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.

He said, “Regulatory Commission has the enormous and huge responsibility of setting and establishing the Commission as provided in the Petroleum Industry Act.”

“The Petroleum Industry will go through a reform process and the process has already started.”