By Hadiza Isyaku Abdulsalam
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has requested the Senate to approve the nominations of two new chief executives for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Special Assistant to the President on Information and Strategy Bayo Onanuga announced this in a statement on December 17, 2025, in Abuja.
The requests followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC, who were appointed in 2021 by former President Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The resignations created the need for new leadership, prompting President Tinubu to nominate suitable replacements.
President Tinubu has nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA, both seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.
Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan spent nearly 33 years with the NNPC and its subsidiaries, retiring as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024).
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed has held various roles, including Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, and is currently an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.
According to the statement, the nominees are expected to be confirmed by the Senate, after which they will take over the leadership of the two regulatory agencies.
The Senate will review and consider the nominations, and if confirmed, the new CEOs will bring their expertise and experience to lead the agencies.