Nigeria’s Oil Sector Gets New Regulators as Senate Confirms Tinubu’s Nominees

Senate on Friday confirmed the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as chief executive officers of Nigeria’s key petroleum regulatory bodies, marking the conclusion of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s request to fill leadership vacancies at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

The approvals came after both nominees were screened by relevant Senate committees and received majority support on the floor of the upper chamber.

The nominations followed the recent resignations of the previous heads of the two agencies, Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the NUPRC, whose departures earlier this month prompted the Presidency to forward new names to the Senate for legislative consideration.

In formal letters to the Senate, President Tinubu had asked lawmakers to expedite the confirmation of Eyesan and Mohammed in line with statutory requirements under the Petroleum Industry Act.

Eyesan, nominated to head the upstream regulator, brings decades of experience from her career at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and its subsidiaries, having retired as Executive Vice President for Upstream operations after nearly 33 years of service.

During her screening before the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, she outlined her priorities for the sector, emphasising collaboration, digitisation and data-driven regulation as key facets of her proposed leadership.

Mohammed, appointed to lead the midstream and downstream authority, similarly highlighted the need for disciplined enforcement of contracts and quality standards to strengthen the energy value chain. In his remarks to the committee, he said, “Gas is not a favour; it is a commodity. It must be sold on the basis of enforceable contracts from the producer to the transporter and the end-user,” reflecting his intent to address systemic challenges in the sector.

The confirmations are expected to usher in a new phase of regulatory oversight for Nigeria’s oil and gas industry, with the Senate’s action signalling legislative support for the Tinubu administration’s efforts to stabilise leadership at institutions central to the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Lawmakers noted that the successful confirmation of the nominees would help restore investor confidence and reinforce regulatory certainty amid ongoing efforts to boost production, attract investment and advance sector reforms.