Lawmakers at the Senate
Senate has confirmed the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of Nigeria’s two key petroleum regulators, marking a swift step in strengthening oversight of the oil and gas sector.
At plenary, lawmakers approved Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), while Aliyu was confirmed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigeria Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Their confirmation followed the consideration and adoption of a report submitted by the Joint Committees on Petroleum Upstream, Downstream and Gas, which vetted the nominees and recommended their appointments.
President Bola Tinubu had earlier in the week nominated Eyesan and Aliyu to fill the vacancies created by the resignation of the former heads of the two regulatory bodies. A formal request for their confirmation was transmitted to the Senate on Thursday.
In a rare display of speed, the upper chamber concluded the confirmation process within 24 hours, reflecting what lawmakers described as the urgency of ensuring continuity and stability in the regulation of Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
With their confirmation, Eyesan and Aliyu are expected to immediately assume duties, as the government moves to reinforce regulatory leadership across the upstream, midstream and downstream segments of the sector.
