President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted 21 nominees to the Senate for confirmation as chairmen and board members of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The appointments, made under the 2021 Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), combine figures retained from prior administrations with new appointees, aiming to strengthen oversight of upstream exploration and midstream/downstream operations. Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite approval to ensure “professional and efficient” regulation of Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.

At the NUPRC, former senator Magnus Abe has been nominated as chairman, alongside experienced commissioners and advisers drawn from finance, exploration, production, corporate services, and health and safety.

For the NMDPRA, lawyer and former World Bank oil and gas policy team member Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji has been tapped as chairman, supported by a mix of non-executive members and directors covering finance, hydrocarbons, infrastructure, distribution, and strategic planning.

Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC):

• Chairman: Senator Magnus Abe (former Rivers South East Senator, ex-NNPC board member)
• Non-Executive Commissioners:
  • Engineer Paul Yaro Jezhi (ex-TUC Kaduna chairman)
  • Mr Sunday Adebayo Babalola (ex-DPR deputy director)
• Executive Commissioners:
  • Muhammed Sabo Lamido (Finance)
  • Mr Edu Inyang (Exploration & Acreage)
  • Justin Ezeala (Economic Regulation & Strategic Planning)
  • Henry Darlington Oki (Development & Production)
  • Indabawa Bashari Alka (Corporate Services & Administration)
  • Mahmood Tijani (Health, Safety & Environment)
• Secretary/Legal Adviser: Ms Olayemi Adeboyejo

Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA):

• Chairman: Mr Adegbite Ebiowei Adeniji (lawyer, ex-special adviser to Minister of State for Petroleum, ex-World Bank oil/gas policy team)
• Non-Executive Members:
  • Chief Kenneth Kobani (ex-Minister of State for Trade, ex-Rivers SSG)
  • Mrs Asabe Ahmed
• Executive Directors:
  • Abiodun Adeniji (Finance)
  • Francis Ogaree (Hydrocarbon)
  • Oluwole Adama (Midstream & Downstream Gas Infrastructure)
  • Dr Mustapha Lamorde (Corporate Services & Administration)
  • Mr Yahaya Nasamu Yinusa (Distribution Systems)
  • Adeyemi Murtala Aminu (Corporate Services)
  • Ms Modie Ogechukwu (Economic Regulation & Strategic Planning)
• Board Secretary/Legal Adviser: Barrister Olawale Dawodu

The nominations reflect Tinubu’s push to consolidate regulatory leadership in Nigeria’s petroleum industry, with the Senate now tasked to confirm the appointments.