Tinubu Appoints New Boards for Nigeria’s Oil Regulators, Magnus Abe to Chair NUPRC
President Bola Tinubu has taken a significant step to strengthen Nigeria’s oil and gas governance by nominating former Senator Magnus Abe as chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Alongside Abe, the President has submitted 20 other nominations for the boards of the NUPRC and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation, urging expedited approval.
Abe, who represented Rivers South-East for two Senate terms, brings extensive experience to the role, having previously served on the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation and currently chairing the National Agency of the Great Green Wall. He will lead the NUPRC alongside notable non-executive commissioners, including former Trade Union Congress chairman Paul Jezhi and ex-deputy director of the now-defunct Department of Petroleum Resources, Sunday Babalola.
The NUPRC board will also include seven executive commissioners overseeing key portfolios such as finance, exploration, economic regulation, development, corporate services, health and safety, and legal affairs. Notably, Muhammed Lamido and Olayemi Adeboyejo are returning members from previous administrations, while others, including Edu Inyang, Justin Ezeala, and Mahmood Tijani, are new appointees, reflecting a blend of experience and fresh perspectives.
For the NMDPRA, Tinubu has nominated Adegbite Adeniji as chairman. A seasoned lawyer and energy expert, Adeniji has held advisory roles with the World Bank and Nigerian government, contributing to upstream petroleum reforms and the Strategic Gas Plan. Other nominees include Kenneth Kobani and Asabe Ahmed as non-executive members, with additional executive directors assigned to finance, hydrocarbon, gas infrastructure, and corporate services.
The appointments follow the Senate’s recent confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEOs of the NUPRC and NMDPRA, respectively. President Tinubu urged all nominees to execute their responsibilities professionally, highlighting the strategic importance of effective regulatory oversight in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. The Senate is expected to screen the nominees in the coming weeks before final confirmation.
source: punch