President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has sent two letters to the Senate, requesting confirmation for 21 nominees to serve on the boards of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). The nominations follow recent leadership appointments at both agencies and signal a major reshuffle aimed at strengthening oversight and governance in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Why New Nominations Are Needed
The appointments come after a series of reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, including the ** Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021**, which restructured the regulatory landscape. The PIA replaced the old Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), with the NUPRC and NMDPRA to enhance efficiency, transparency, and investor confidence.
Following these reforms, President Tinubu recently appointed Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.
The new board nominations aim to complement these executives, ensuring both agencies have experienced leadership to implement regulatory reforms, oversee compliance, and drive sector growth.
Magnus Abe Nominated as NUPRC Chairman
Senator Magnus Abe, a two-term senator representing Rivers South East, has been nominated to chair the NUPRC board. Abe has extensive legislative experience in oil and gas policy, having served on Senate committees for petroleum resources. He is also a former NNPC board member and currently chairs the National Agency of the Great Green Wall, demonstrating experience in environmental and energy-linked initiatives.
Other major nominees for NUPRC include:
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Engineer Paul Yaro Jezhi – Former Trade Union Congress chairman in Kaduna, bringing labor relations and stakeholder management expertise.
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Mr. Sunday Adebayo Babalola – Former deputy director of the DPR, bringing institutional knowledge of Nigeria’s previous regulatory framework.
Executive commissioners for NUPRC include:
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Muhammed Sabo Lamido – Finance
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Mr. Edu Inyang – Exploration and Acreage
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Justin Ezeala – Economic Regulation & Strategic Planning (former MD of Nigerian Gas Marketing Limited)
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Henry Darlington Oki – Development and Production
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Indabawa Bashari Alka – Corporate Services & Administration
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Mahmood Tijani – Health, Safety & Environment
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Ms. Olayemi Adeboyejo – Secretary & Legal Adviser
Several of these appointments, including Lamido and Adeboyejo, were first made under former President Buhari, while others are new appointments by President Tinubu.
Adegbite Adeniji to Chair NMDPRA
President Tinubu nominated Mr. Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji, a lawyer and energy sector veteran with over 30 years of experience, as chairman of the NMDPRA board.
Adeniji previously served as special technical adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum on upstream and gas until 2018. He was also part of the World Bank’s Oil & Gas Policy Advisory Team, contributing to Nigeria’s Strategic Gas Plan and reforms of the petroleum sector. He currently serves as managing partner at ENR Advisory, a leading energy consultancy.
Non-executive nominees include:
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Chief Kenneth Kobani – Former minister of state for trade under President Jonathan and ex-secretary to the Rivers State government.
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Mrs. Asabe Ahmed – Experienced industry professional.
Executive directors for NMDPRA include:
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Abiodun Adeniji – Finance
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Francis Ogaree – Hydrocarbon
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Oluwole Adama – Midstream & Downstream Gas Infrastructure
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Dr. Mustapha Lamorde – Corporate Services & Administration
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Yahaya Nasamu Yinusa – Distribution Systems
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Adeyemi Murtala Aminu – Corporate Services
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Ms. Modie Ogechukwu – Economic Regulation & Strategic Planning
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Barrister Olawale Dawodu – Secretary & Legal Adviser (former Financial Reporting Manager at Exxon subsidiaries)
Senate Approval and Expectations
President Tinubu has urged the Senate to approve the nominees swiftly, emphasizing that their expertise will be critical in enforcing regulations, implementing the Petroleum Industry Act, and ensuring Nigeria remains an attractive investment destination in oil and gas.
The new board members are expected to work alongside the recently confirmed CEOs, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan (NUPRC), and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed (NMDPRA), to provide strategic oversight, strengthen governance, and drive operational efficiency in both upstream and midstream/downstream sectors.
The President has tasked all nominees with discharging their responsibilities professionally, underscoring the vital role of these regulatory agencies in shaping Nigeria’s energy future.