Amanze Chinonye
President Tinubu has nominated new chief executives for Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory agencies following the resignation of the heads of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), developments that come amid intense controversy in the oil and gas sector, Prime Business Africa reports.
In a letter to the Senate on Wednesday, the President sought expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA.
The nominations followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed, former CEO of the NMDPRA, and Gbenga Komolafe, former CEO of the NUPRC. Both men were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari as pioneer chief executives of the two regulators established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
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Although the State House press release announcing the resignations did not state reasons for the exits, Farouk Ahmed’s departure has been widely linked to recent allegations of corruption and economic sabotage levelled against him by billionaire industrialist and Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
Dangote had publicly accused Ahmed of regulatory actions he said undermined domestic refining and Nigeria’s economic interests, particularly the continued issuance of petroleum import licences which, according to him, discouraged local refining and investment. He also alleged that the former NMDPRA boss lived beyond his legitimate earnings as a public servant, citing claims of multi-million-dollar foreign school fees paid for his children.
The allegations, made during media engagements at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lagos, escalated into a national controversy, prompting reactions from civil society groups, labour leaders and political actors, many of whom called for investigations by anti-corruption agencies, Prime Business Africa understands.
Dangote subsequently petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging the agency to investigate and prosecute Ahmed for alleged abuse of office, corrupt enrichment and economic sabotage.
In response to the controversy, Farouk Ahmed issued a disclaimer, stating that a purported statement attributed to him on the Dangote allegations did not emanate from him. He clarified that he had not made any public response on the matter.
The controversy placed the NMDPRA under heightened public scrutiny at a sensitive period for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector, coming against the backdrop of fuel subsidy removal and ongoing debates over fuel imports, pricing and domestic refining capacity.
Although no public allegations were made against Gbenga Komolafe, the former head of the NUPRC, his exit occurred alongside the broader leadership changes in the petroleum regulatory space. The upstream sector has faced persistent challenges, including crude oil theft, declining production levels and the need to attract fresh investment under the PIA framework.
President Tinubu’s nomination of new chief executives is seen by analysts as part of a wider effort to reset petroleum sector governance, strengthen regulatory credibility and improve revenue generation under his economic reform agenda.
The President urged the Senate to fast-track the confirmation of the nominees, underscoring the strategic importance of the two agencies to Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
Eyesan, nominated to lead the NUPRC, is an economics graduate of the University of Benin with nearly 33 years of experience at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream, in 2024, and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy.
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, nominated as CEO of the NMDPRA, is a chemical engineer and former Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer of NNPC’s Gas and Power Directorate. His career includes leadership roles at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company, as well as board chairmanships across key gas and LNG entities. He has been involved in major infrastructure projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline.
The Senate’s consideration of the nominations is expected to be closely watched by industry stakeholders, investors and anti-corruption agencies as the developments mark a critical moment in Nigeria’s petroleum sector governance.
Amanze Chinonye is a Staff Correspondent at Prime Business Africa, a rising star in the literary world, weaving captivating stories that transport readers to the vibrant landscapes of Nigeria and the rest of Africa. With a unique voice that blends with the newspaper's tradition and style, Chinonye's writing is a masterful exploration of the human condition, delving into themes of identity, culture, and social justice. Through her words, Chinonye paints vivid portraits of everyday African life, from the bustling markets of Nigeria's Lagos to the quiet villages of South Africa's countryside . With a keen eye for detail and a deep understanding of the complexities of Nigerian society, Chinonye's writing is both a testament to the country's rich cultural heritage and a powerful call to action for a brighter future. As a writer, Chinonye is a true storyteller, using her dexterity to educate, inspire, and uplift readers around the world.
