Di Chief Executive of di Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, don resign from office. Same way, di head of di Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, also step down from im position.
Dis development make President Bola Tinubu move fast to send names of new people wey go replace dem to di Senate for confirmation.
Tinubu Ask Senate to Confirm New Appointments
According to official information wey come from di Presidency, President Tinubu don write separate letters to di Senate, asking dem make dem quickly confirm di new nominees as chief executives of di two important oil and gas agencies.
Di announcement come through di President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, wey explain say di decision na part of effort to strengthen regulation for Nigeria oil and gas sector.
Who Be di New Nominees?
For NUPRC, President Tinubu nominate Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as di new Chief Executive Officer. She be economist and oil industry expert wey work for NNPCL and im subsidiaries for almost 33 years. She retire in 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream, and don also serve as Group General Manager for Corporate Planning and Strategy.
For NMDPRA, di President pick Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, wey be chemical engineer and former Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company. Mohammed don also serve for different boards inside di energy sector and recently become independent non-executive director for Seplat Energy.
Di Presidency describe both nominees as experienced professionals wey sabi di oil and gas industry well.
Background to Farouk Ahmed Resignation
Farouk Ahmed resignation come after serious public disagreement between am and Africa richest man, Aliko Dangote, wey catch national attention for December 2025.
Di issue start when Dangote accuse Ahmed of living above im official income, especially over claims say millions of dollars don go into overseas education for im four children. Dangote later petition di Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) make dem investigate di matter.
Public Dispute Rock Petroleum Sector
Di accusations spark serious debate across di country about transparency and accountability inside Nigeria petroleum regulation system. Ahmed deny di allegations, describe dem as false and insist say e ready to face any proper investigation instead of arguing for public space.
Di quarrel trace back to 2024, when Ahmed criticise local refinery performance, including Dangote Refinery. Di issue later force House of Representatives to step in, summoning both parties so di matter no go destabilise di oil and gas sector.
Next Steps
With di resignation of di two agency heads, attention now dey on di Senate to screen and confirm di new nominees. Many industry watchers believe say di changes fit mark new chapter for regulation, transparency, and stability inside Nigeria petroleum sector.
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