The Nigerian Senate has unanimously confirmed Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new chief executives of the country’s key petroleum regulatory bodies, marking a significant leadership transition in the oil and gas sector. Eyesan will take charge of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), while Aliyu assumes leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
President Bola Tinubu transmitted the nominees’ names to the Senate following the recent resignations of the previous heads of both agencies. The Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum (Upstream, Downstream and Gas) conducted an expedited screening exercise before presenting its report, which lawmakers adopted at plenary.
In a swift legislative process, the Senate concluded the confirmation within 24 hours of receiving the president’s request, allowing the new leadership to immediately take the helm of the regulators under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Both Eyesan and Aliyu bring substantial industry experience expected to strengthen oversight, enhance regulatory efficiency, and support investor confidence in Nigeria’s critical oil and gas value chain.
The appointments are seen as part of broader sector reforms aimed at stabilizing and revitalizing Nigeria’s petroleum industry, following a period of leadership reshuffles and public scrutiny of regulatory practices.
