Nigeria’s oil and gas sector witnessed a major leadership change on Wednesday as Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe resigned from their positions as heads of the country’s key petroleum regulatory agencies.
Ahmed stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), while Komolafe resigned as CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Both agencies were created under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to oversee Nigeria’s oil and gas operations and ensure transparency, efficiency, and investor confidence in the sector.
However, following their resignations, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu moved swiftly to prevent a leadership vacuum by nominating new chief executives and sending their names to the Senate for confirmation.
The President nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan to head the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of the NMDPRA. He urged lawmakers to give the nominations urgent attention, citing the importance of stable regulation in the oil and gas industry, which remains critical to Nigeria’s economy.
In recent weeks, prominent businessman Aliko Dangote had publicly accused Farouk Ahmed of corruption and abuse of office, allegations that sparked nationwide debate and calls for accountability. Although Ahmed had previously denied the wrongdoing, the accusations increased pressure on the agency and placed its leadership under the spotlight.
While no formal court verdict has been reached, the controversy added to concerns about governance and regulatory credibility in the petroleum sector. The Senate is expected to begin the confirmation process for the new nominees in the coming days.
Industry observers say the changes may reflect the government’s push to improve transparency, strengthen oversight, and stabilize the oil and gas sector amid economic challenges and global uncertainty.
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