KEY POINTS
- Farouk Ahmed resigned as head of the NMDPRA a day after corruption allegations were made against him
- Gbenga Komolafe also stepped down as chief executive of the upstream petroleum regulator
- President Tinubu has sent new nominees for both roles to the Senate, seeking swift confirmation
Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum regulator has been thrown into sudden transition after Farouk Ahmed resigned as chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, barely a day after corruption allegations were raised publicly against him.
The resignation, announced on Wednesday, comes amid growing scrutiny of regulatory institutions following claims made by Aliko Dangote, president and chief executive of Dangote Industries Limited, which have intensified debate around governance and transparency in the oil and gas sector.
In a parallel development, Gbenga Komolafe also stepped down as head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, marking a rare simultaneous exit of the chief executives of the country’s two main petroleum regulators.
The presidency said the departures were followed swiftly by moves to stabilise the agencies and maintain continuity in regulation at a time when Nigeria is seeking to attract investment and reform its energy sector.
Reset at the top of Nigeria’s oil regulators
Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga said President Bola Tinubu had forwarded the names of two nominees to the Senate for confirmation as replacements for the outgoing executives.
According to the statement, Tinubu has asked lawmakers to consider the nominations on an expedited basis, signalling an effort to contain uncertainty within the industry.
Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan has been nominated to take over as chief executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, while Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed has been put forward to lead the NMDPRA.
Onanuga described both nominees as seasoned professionals with long-standing experience in the oil and gas sector, adding that their appointments were intended to reinforce regulatory effectiveness and restore confidence among industry stakeholders.
Neither the presidency nor the regulators provided further detail on the circumstances surrounding Ahmed’s resignation, beyond confirming it followed the allegations aired publicly a day earlier. Ahmed has previously said he opted for silence to allow anti-corruption agencies to carry out their work.
The developments come as Nigeria continues to implement reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act, with regulators expected to play a central role in balancing state oversight, private investment and market competition across the energy value chain.
