By Charles Pemu 
In a decisive move to restructure the leadership of Nigeria’s energy sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has formally requested the Senate to confirm two veteran industry professionals as the new chief executives of the nation’s primary regulatory bodies. The request, transmitted to the legislative chamber on Wednesday, follows the sudden resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe, who led the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) respectively since their appointment in 2021.
The transition marks a significant shift for the two agencies which were established under the landmark Petroleum Industry Act to decouple regulatory functions from the commercial operations of the national oil firm. To ensure the continuity of the administration’s “Renewed Hope” energy agenda, the President has nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan to take the helm at the NUPRC while Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed has been tapped to lead the NMDPRA.
Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan brings nearly thirty-three years of extensive experience within the Nigerian National Petroleum Company and its various subsidiaries to her new role as the proposed head of the upstream commission. An Economics graduate from the University of Benin, Eyesan has consistently held high-level strategic positions, most recently serving as the Executive Vice President of Upstream operations. Her tenure as the Group General Manager for Corporate Planning and Strategy between 2019 and 2023 was characterized by the development of critical policy frameworks that have guided the sector through its most recent phase of deregulation.
Her deep understanding of the upstream value chain is expected to be instrumental in driving the federal government’s goal of increasing daily crude oil production and attracting fresh foreign direct investment into the nation’s offshore and onshore assets. If confirmed by the Senate, Eyesan will be tasked with building upon the foundational regulatory structures established over the last four years to create a more transparent and investor-friendly upstream environment.
The nomination of Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed to the midstream and downstream authority signals a strong preference for technical depth and project management expertise. Born in Gombe State and an alumnus of Ahmadu Bello University, Mohammed is a distinguished chemical engineer with a career defined by the delivery of multi-billion dollar energy projects. His previous leadership roles include serving as the Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company as well as the Nigerian Gas Company, where he oversaw the expansion of Nigeria’s internal gas distribution networks.
Beyond his executive management roles, Engineer Mohammed has been a central figure in the development of the Nigerian Gas Masterplan and the Gas Network Code. He is credited with playing a pivotal role in the successful delivery of the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion and the strategic Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano gas pipeline project. His recent appointment as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy further underscores his high standing within both the public and private sectors of the global energy market.
The presidency, through a formal statement issued by the Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, emphasized that these nominations are aimed at fostering a more efficient and accountable regulatory landscape. The administration believes that the combined expertise of Eyesan and Mohammed will accelerate the full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and address the persistent challenges within the downstream supply chain and upstream productivity.
With the formal transmission of their names to the Senate, the focus now shifts to the upper legislative chamber for an expedited screening process. The confirmation of these nominees is widely viewed as a critical step toward stabilizing the industry and ensuring that the regulatory oversight of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resources remains in the hands of seasoned professionals with proven track records of integrity and service.