Far-Reaching Reforms Promised as New NUPRC, NMDPRA Chiefs Take Helm
By Naija Enquirer Staff
President Bola Tinubu’s nominees as chief executives of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) have pledged far-reaching reforms aimed at stabilizing Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
Following a letter from President Tinubu confirming the appointments of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan for NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Mohammed for NMDPRA, the Senate screened the duo as the new chief executives of Nigeria’s oil and gas regulators.
The industry faced a major shake-up following the resignations of Farouk Ahmed, former NMDPRA chief executive amid corruption allegations, and Gbenga Komolafe of NUPRC. Barely 24 hours after their departures, President Tinubu forwarded names of their replacements to the Senate for confirmation.
Excitement at Screening
During the screening, appointments drew excitement from legislators including Senator Adams Oshiomhole (APC Edo North), who expressed optimism about sector reforms. Both nominees pledged to implement reforms anchored on digitisation, strict contract enforcement, investor confidence, and accelerated gas development.
The Senate screening was conducted jointly by three committees: Petroleum Resources (Downstream) chaired by Senator Kawu Abdulrahman (APC, Kano South), Petroleum Resources (Upstream) chaired by Senator Eteng Williams (APC, Cross River Central), and the Committee on Gas chaired by Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe (APC, Cross River North).
Policy Directions and Sector Reforms
The nominees outlined key policy directions to stop revenue leakages, restore discipline across the oil and gas value chain, and unlock Nigeria’s vast energy potential under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
Digitisation Crucial to Regulation — Eyesan
Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, set to lead NUPRC, emphasized that collaboration, technology-driven regulation, and credible data management would be central to her strategy. She highlighted that Nigeria is losing enormous value due to manual processes and poor system integration in an industry increasingly reliant on digital solutions worldwide.
“Without digitisation and real-time data, you cannot truly understand what you are regulating, and revenue losses will continue,” Eyesan said. She pledged to prioritise integrated digital platforms capable of tracking assets, production, revenues, and compliance in real time.
Complementary Reforms in Midstream and Downstream
Engineer Saidu Mohammed, the incoming NMDPRA chief, stressed that digital reforms would be complemented by strict enforcement of contracts and quality standards across midstream and downstream operations, ensuring that regulatory oversight is effective and transparent.
Both nominees committed to enhancing investor confidence, promoting operational efficiency, and implementing far-reaching reforms that would modernize Nigeria’s oil and gas sector in alignment with global best practices.
