President Bola Tinubu has submitted the names of new nominees to the Senate for confirmation as chief executives of Nigeria’s upstream and downstream petroleum regulatory agencies, following the resignation of the previous leaders amid intensified scrutiny of the sector.

In separate letters, the President nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The appointments follow the resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed of NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of NUPRC, both originally appointed in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act during former President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration.

The leadership changes come amid a high-profile dispute between Ahmed and Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, over downstream petroleum regulation. Dangote accused NMDPRA of undermining domestic refining through the continued issuance of petroleum import licences and alleged that Ahmed spent millions of dollars on his children’s education abroad.

On Tuesday, Dangote petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Ahmed’s alleged misconduct. The ICPC has confirmed receipt of the petition.

The controversy has also attracted legislative attention. The House of Representatives resolved to probe the allegations against the former NMDPRA chief and the issuance of petrol import licences, warning that the dispute could threaten fuel supply and investor confidence during the festive season.

The Presidency stated that the nominations aim to ensure continuity in petroleum sector regulation. According to Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser on Information and Strategy to the President, the nominees are experienced professionals:

·       Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, an Economics graduate of the University of Benin, served nearly 33 years with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company, retiring in 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream, and also held the position of Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy.

·       Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, a Chemical Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, previously served as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company, alongside various board and executive roles in the oil and gas sector.

The Senate is expected to consider the nominations in the coming days as investigations into allegations against the former NMDPRA chief continue.