The Senate on Thursday confirmed the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report by a joint committee of the Senate, chaired by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu, during plenary.
Presenting the report, Senator Kawu told the Senate that the nominees were thoroughly screened and found suitable for the positions, urging lawmakers to approve their appointments in the interest of continuity and stability in the petroleum sector.
The Senate subsequently confirmed the nominees after a voice vote, paving the way for their assumption of office.
Naijaonpoint reports that the confirmations came amid recent changes in the leadership of Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory agencies.
Recall that a former Managing Director of the NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, had on Wednesday resigned his appointment following corruption allegations levelled against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
In the same vein, Gbenga Komolafe stepped down as the Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed the development in a statement, explaining that the resignations necessitated swift action by the President to fill the leadership vacuum in the key regulatory bodies.
Following the resignations, President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Senate, requesting the expedited confirmation of Eyesan as the NUPRC CEO and Mohammed as the head of the NMDPRA.
According to the Presidency, the urgency was to ensure stability and sustained regulatory oversight in the oil and gas industry, which remains a critical driver of Nigeria’s economy.
The Presidency described the two nominees as seasoned professionals with vast experience in the oil and gas sector, expressing confidence in their ability to lead the regulatory agencies effectively.
Their confirmation is expected to usher in a new phase of leadership at the NUPRC and NMDPRA, at a time when the Federal Government is pushing reforms and transparency in the petroleum industry.