Tinubu Nominates New Petroleum Regulators Amid Dangote–NMDPRA Controversy

By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman

President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday met with the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid escalating allegations by industrialist Aliko Dangote.

Shortly after the meeting, the President forwarded to the Senate the names of two nominees to head Nigeria’s petroleum regulators, following the resignations of Ahmed and the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Gbenga Komolafe.

In separate letters, Tinubu sought Senate confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as CEO of the NUPRC and Saidu Mohammed as CEO of the NMDPRA, urging expedited consideration.

The nominees are seasoned oil and gas professionals, with Eyesan bringing over three decades of experience at the NNPC and Mohammed, a chemical engineer, recently named a non-executive director at Seplat Energy.

The developments come against the backdrop of a public dispute between Dangote Petroleum Refinery and the NMDPRA, with Dangote accusing the regulator of undermining local refining and alleging corruption against Ahmed—claims now before the ICPC.

While analysts differ on whether the resignations are linked to the allegations, attention is shifting to the Senate’s confirmation process and whether ongoing investigations will proceed to restore confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum regulation.