Tinubu names new heads for NMDPRA, NUPRC following corruption allegations

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

According to a statement issued on Wednesday, Farouk Ahmed of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (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 Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA.

The request for expedited confirmation follows the resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe, who were appointed in 2021 under former President Muhammadu 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 of the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, from 2019 to 2023.

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

His career highlights include serving as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company, as well as chairing the 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, where he provided leadership on major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Master Plan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).