Resignations Shake Nigeria’s Petroleum Regulatory Leadership: Tinubu Nominates Successors
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, has officially resigned, with his counterpart at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe, also stepping down.
Following these resignations, President Bola Tinubu has written to the Senate requesting the confirmation of new chief executives for both agencies. The request was made through separate letters on Wednesday, as announced by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Both Ahmed and Komolafe were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act.
According to the statement, President Tinubu has nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.
Eyesan, an economist with nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its subsidiaries, retired in 2024 as Executive Vice President, Upstream. She previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy.
Mohammed, a chemical engineer, is a former Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. He has served on multiple energy sector boards and recently became an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy. The statement described both nominees as “seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry.”
Ahmed’s resignation comes amid a high-profile conflict with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, which captured national attention in December 2025. The dispute began after Dangote accused Ahmed of living beyond his means, citing millions of dollars allegedly spent on the overseas education of his four children. Dangote also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Ahmed for alleged abuse of office and corrupt enrichment.
The NMDPRA chief denied the allegations, calling them “wild and spurious,” and stated he would defend himself before a formal investigative body rather than engage in public debate.
The conflict reportedly dates back to 2024 when Ahmed publicly criticized domestic refinery output, including that of Dangote’s refinery, prompting the House of Representatives to intervene and summon both parties to prevent disruption in the petroleum sector.
This leadership transition marks a critical moment for Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory framework as the Senate prepares to consider the President’s nominations.
