NMDPRA and NUPRC heads resign after meeting Tinubu
President Bola Tinubu has accepted the resignations of the heads of two key petroleum regulatory agencies the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) following high-profile scrutiny and a meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, and Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the NUPRC, stepped down from their positions after being summoned by Tinubu amid a public controversy involving industry giant Aliko Dangote and allegations of corruption and regulatory mismanagement.
The resignations came amid a dispute that escalated after Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Limited, publicly accused Ahmed of economic sabotage, abuse of office, and “living beyond his means,” including alleged questionable spending on private family expenses. Dangote also filed a petition with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) calling for investigation and possible prosecution, putting additional pressure on regulatory leadership.
Following the departures, Tinubu wrote to the Senate recommending seasoned industry professionals as successors. For the NUPRC, Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, an oil-and-gas veteran with nearly 33 years’ experience in the sector, was nominated. For the NMDPRA, Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, with extensive leadership roles in national energy projects, was put forward as the new chief executive. Tinubu urged lawmakers to expedite confirmation to ensure continuity and stability in the regulatory framework under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The moves mark a significant shake-up in Nigeria’s energy regulatory landscape as the federal government seeks to address concerns over governance, transparency, and investor confidence in the oil and gas sector amid ongoing policy and pricing challenges.
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