Senate on Friday approved the appointments of two new chief executives for the nation’s primary oil and gas regulatory bodies, following nominations by President Bola Tinubu earlier this week.
The upper chamber confirmed Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Saidu Mohammed as leader of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), replacing predecessors who stepped down amid scrutiny in the sector.
Tinubu forwarded the nominees to lawmakers on Wednesday to succeed Gbenga Komolafe at NUPRC and Farouk Ahmed at NMDPRA, the latter having faced corruption claims from billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote.
A joint committee of the National Assembly, chaired by Senator Kawu Sumaila, screened the candidates through detailed interviews evaluating their expertise and suitability.
“The joint committee, having screened the nominees and being satisfied with their qualifications, expertise and responses to the questions asked, hereby recommends that the senate confirms their nominations,” Sumaila stated in his report to the plenary.
After deliberations in the Committee of the Whole, senators endorsed the recommendations via voice vote, leading to unanimous confirmation.f4861a
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, urged the new appointees to prioritize national interests.
“You have been called to serve our nation. We expect you to discharge your duties diligently in a manner that will promote the interests of Nigeria and strengthen the petroleum sector,” Barau said.
He also praised the joint committee for its “thorough and timely exercise in spite of the limited time available,” highlighting its contribution to improving oversight in the oil industry.
The roles are established under the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act, which grants the president authority to appoint CEOs for five-year renewable terms, pending Senate approval.
Barau extended congratulations to Eyesan and Mohammed, framing their positions as opportunities for national service aimed at enhancing regulatory efficiency in Nigeria’s vital energy sector.
