Oil Agency Nominees Pledge Reforms, May Be Confirmed Friday

Nominees for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, and that of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Mohammed, have promised to reform the agencies.

They both used the session to outline reform agendas focused on ending value leakages, strengthening regulation and restoring investor confidence across the sector.

They gave the commitment on Thursday while responding to questions during their screening exercise at the Senate.

Their nominations followed the resignation on Wednesday of the pioneer chief executives of the two agencies, Gbenga Komolafe (NUPRC) and Farouk Ahmed (NMDPRA).

Appearing before senators, Eyesan said her priority would be to deploy technology-driven regulation, credible data management and collaboration with stakeholders to improve oversight in the upstream sector.

She noted that Nigeria was losing significant value due to manual processes and weak system integration in an industry that is increasingly digital.

According to her, effective regulation depends on real-time data, transparent systems and asset integrity monitoring. She said the PIA provides a strong framework to reposition the sector, attract investment and align Nigeria with global energy transition realities, if properly implemented.

Eyesan, an Economics graduate of the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries, retiring as Executive Vice President, Upstream.

She highlighted her involvement in resolving disputes with international partners, facilitating deep offshore investments and boosting crude oil output during her tenure.

The nominee expressed confidence that her experience as an operator would enhance her effectiveness as a regulator, adding that collaboration between regulators, operators and policymakers was key to unlocking the sector’s potential.

The nominee for the midstream and downstream regulator, Mohammed, said restoring discipline through strict enforcement of contracts and quality standards would be central to his approach.

He described gas as a commercial commodity that must be traded on enforceable contracts, noting that weak contractual frameworks had contributed to supply disruptions, particularly in the power sector.

He said enforcing the Gas Network Code and strengthening regulatory oversight would stabilise supply, reduce uncertainty and encourage investment.

Mohammed also cautioned against neglecting domestic refining and processing capacity, warning that failure to protect local industries could undermine energy security.

The NMDPRA nominee pledged to revive pipeline transportation of petroleum products, attract investments in gas processing infrastructure and strengthen quality assurance through in-house laboratory testing facilities.

Born in Gombe in 1957, Mohammed is a chemical engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with decades of experience across the oil and gas value chain.

He has previously served as Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Company and the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, as well as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power at NNPC.

Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), Senator Sumaila Kawu, said the screening was taking place at a critical period, noting that improved energy production and efficiency were vital to economic recovery.

He added that further engagements with the nominees would continue into January.

The Senate is expected to consider the committee’s report after the screening and proceed with the confirmation of the nominees, paving the way for a new phase in the regulation of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry under the Bola Tinubu administration.

Speaking earlier at plenary on the nominations, the President of the Senate, Godswill Akpabio, said the two nominees might be confirmed on Friday, saying that the positions they were meant to fill were too critical to allow for a vacuum.