Senate Screens Tinubu’s Nominees as Nigeria Petroleum Regulatory Reforms Gain Momentum
Nigeria’s push for stronger oil and gas governance took a significant step forward on Thursday as the Senate commenced the screening of President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the country’s key petroleum regulatory agencies. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan and Saidu Mohammed appeared before the joint Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources, covering upstream, downstream, and gas sectors, signaling the government’s intent to implement deeper reforms.
Both nominees highlighted reform agendas aimed at closing revenue leakages, improving regulatory discipline, and attracting new investments. They emphasized strategies such as digitizing operations, strict contract enforcement, credible data management, and accelerating gas development in alignment with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA). Their pledges come after the resignations of the pioneer executives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Eyesan, nominated to head NUPRC, stressed that Nigeria’s largely manual regulatory processes were causing significant value loss. She highlighted the need for accurate data, asset monitoring, and transparent systems, calling for collaboration between regulators, operators, and policymakers to address sector bottlenecks. With over three decades at NNPCL, she cited her experience in resolving disputes, increasing crude oil production, and signing the country’s first non-associated gas contract as evidence of her readiness to lead.
Nominee for NMDPRA, Saidu Mohammed, underscored the importance of enforcing contracts and standards across the gas and petroleum supply chain to prevent shortages and boost investor confidence. He emphasized the need to strengthen domestic refining capacity and revive pipeline transportation while ensuring quality assurance through in-house testing laboratories. Mohammed’s decades of experience across the oil and gas value chain, including leading major infrastructure projects, positions him to tackle these challenges.
Senate Committee Chairman Senator Sumaila Kawu described the screening as a critical step toward improving energy production and efficiency, central to national economic recovery. Lawmakers will continue engagements with the nominees into January, after which a committee report will guide the Senate’s confirmation. If approved, the new leadership promises a more disciplined, transparent, and investment-friendly oil and gas sector under the Tinubu administration.
source: Leadership