In a swift legislative action that signals a major overhaul in Nigeria's petroleum regulatory landscape, the Nigerian Senate on December 19, 2025, confirmed the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). The confirmations followed the adoption of a report from a joint Senate committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream, Downstream, and Gas), chaired by Senator Abdulrahman Kawu.
The approvals came just a day after President Bola Tinubu forwarded the nominations to the Senate, invoking provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 for expedited processing. Sections 11(3) and 34(3) of the PIA empower the President to appoint the chief executives of NUPRC and NMDPRA, subject to Senate confirmation for a five-year renewable term. During screening on December 18, both nominees pledged to prioritize local refining investments, resolve industry challenges, and foster stakeholder collaboration.
Eyesan, a seasoned professional with nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and its subsidiaries, including her recent role as Executive Vice President for Upstream, was praised for her expertise. Mohammed, a chemical engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University with over four decades in the sector, including stints as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, assured lawmakers of deliberate policies to protect domestic refiners and meet national demand.
This leadership transition stems from the resignations announced on December 17, 2025, of the previous CEOs: Engineer Farouk Ahmed from NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe from NUPRC. Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga disclosed the exits in a statement, noting that both officials, appointed in 2021 under the PIA by former President Muhammadu Buhari, had stepped down. President Tinubu immediately nominated their successors, describing them as experienced professionals to ensure continuity in regulating Nigeria's critical oil and gas industry.
Ahmed's resignation occurred amid intense controversy triggered by allegations from Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Group and owner of Africa's largest refinery. The feud escalated publicly on December 14, 2025, when Dangote, during a press conference at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, accused NMDPRA leadership under Ahmed of "economic sabotage." He claimed the regulator colluded with international oil traders and importers by issuing excessive import licences for petroleum products—reportedly covering 7.5 billion litres for Q1 2026—despite substantial local refining capacity, thereby undermining domestic production and sustaining Nigeria's import dependence.
Dangote further alleged regulatory failures that discouraged investment in local refineries, warning that modular refineries were on the brink of extinction due to a hostile environment. He emphasized the need to separate regulatory functions from commercial interests, stating that allowing traders to influence regulation erodes sector confidence.
The allegations intensified on December 16, 2025, when Dangote submitted a formal petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN). The petition accused Ahmed of corruption, abuse of office, illicit enrichment, and living beyond legitimate means as a public officer. Specifically, it claimed Ahmed diverted public funds exceeding $7 million for the secondary and tertiary education of his four children in Switzerland, including upfront payments for six years of schooling and $210,000 for a 2025 Harvard MBA program for one child. Dangote provided names of the children and schools for verification, urging ICPC to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Ahmed under Section 19 of the ICPC Act, which carries a five-year imprisonment without fine option upon conviction.
Dangote stressed that decisive action would uphold justice and protect President Tinubu's administration's image, vowing to provide evidence. The ICPC confirmed receipt of the petition on December 16, stating it would be duly investigated.
In response, Ahmed dismissed the allegations as "wild and spurious" in a brief statement, opting not to engage in public disputes given the sensitive nature of his role. He welcomed the formal ICPC process, believing it would allow a dispassionate examination to clear his name. Ahmed also disowned a circulating statement purportedly from him addressing the claims.
Komolafe's resignation from NUPRC, while concurrent, was not explicitly linked to the Dangote-NMDPRA dispute in official statements. His four-year tenure focused on upstream regulation post-PIA implementation.
The rapid confirmations and leadership changes underscore efforts to stabilize the petroleum sector amid ongoing tensions between regulators and major stakeholders like Dangote Refinery, which aims to reduce Nigeria's fuel import reliance. Analysts view the shake-up as a response to calls for accountability and improved oversight to boost local refining and energy security.
As Eyesan and Mohammed assume office, expectations are high for reforms addressing import policies, investment protection, and transparency. The ICPC probe into Ahmed's allegations continues, potentially shaping future regulatory integrity discussions.
