BREAKING: Tinubu sends Senate names of new NUPRC, NMDPRA executives

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved to replace the leaders of two key petroleum regulatory bodies, including one embroiled in corruption allegations from billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have stepped down from their respective roles.

“Mr Ahmed has been facing allegations of corruption by the industrialist Aliko Dangote, whose refinery is the largest in Africa,” the statement noted.

Presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga confirmed that the presidency has nominated replacements for the departing executives.

Mr Onanuga’s full statement below.

President Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, seeking approval for the appointment of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA. 

The request for expedited confirmation follows the resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe, who were appointed in 2021 under former President Buhari to lead the agencies established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

Both nominees bring extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. Ms. Eyesan, an Economics graduate from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years at NNPC and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC from 2019 to 2023.

Mr. Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University (1981). He was recently named an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.

His career highlights include serving as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, and chairing boards of the West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.

Mr. Mohammed also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate, providing leadership on major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). 

He was instrumental in delivering critical infrastructure such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train projects.