Nigeria’s Senate on Friday confirmed the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as chief executive officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Saidu Mohammed as chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The confirmations followed the adoption of a report by a joint Senate committee chaired by Sen. Abdulrahman Kawu, lawmakers said.
The approvals come amid leadership changes at the country’s key oil and gas regulatory agencies. Farouk Ahmed, the former head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, resigned on Wednesday after corruption allegations were made against him by Africa’s richest man and Dangote Group Chairman, Aliko Dangote.
In a statement, presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said Gbenga Komolafe had also stepped down as chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Following the resignations, President Bola Tinubu wrote to the Senate requesting expedited confirmation of Eyesan and Mohammed to ensure continuity in the regulation of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, one of the country’s most critical sources of revenue.
