President Bola Tinubu has replaced the chief executives of Nigeria’s primary petroleum regulatory bodies following allegations of corruption and regulatory failures. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have both exited their roles. The presidency has nominated Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed to lead the NMDPRA and Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the new CEO of the NUPRC. The nominations, submitted to the Senate for expedited confirmation, follow months of public friction between the regulators and major industrial players, including the Dangote Petroleum Refinery.
The exit of Farouk Ahmed comes after he was embroiled in a high-profile dispute with Aliko Dangote, who accused the regulator of colluding with international traders to frustrate local refining. Dangote had alleged that the NMDPRA was issuing import licences for substandard petroleum products while claiming that locally refined fuel was of inferior quality. Furthermore, the industrialist made specific allegations regarding the personal finances of the outgoing regulator, prompting investigations by legislative committees and civil society protests. Ahmed denied the claims, describing them as spurious, but the controversy significantly damaged investor confidence in the transparency of the downstream regulatory environment.
The new appointees bring extensive industry experience to their respective roles at a time when the sector is undergoing rapid transformation. Saidu Aliyu Mohammed previously served as a Group Executive Director at the NNPC and was a key figure in developing the National Gas Masterplan and the Petroleum Industry Act framework. Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, an economist with over 30 years of experience, recently served as the Executive Vice President for Upstream at the NNPC. Their appointments are seen as a strategic move to restore institutional integrity and professionalise the leadership of the agencies responsible for overseeing Nigeria’s most critical economic sector.
