Senate confirms Mohammed, Eyesan new CEOs for NMDPRA, NUPRC

The Senate has confirmed the appointment of Saidu Mohammed and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officers (CEOs) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), respectively.

The confirmations followed the consideration and adoption of the report by the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum (Upstream, Downstream and Gas), which conducted the screening of the nominees, on Friday, December 19, 2025.

The Senate also acted on a request transmitted by President Bola Tinubu seeking legislative approval for the appointments, in accordance with the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

The chairman of the joint committee, Kawu Sumaila who presented the report, said the nominations were referred to the relevant committees following plenary on Thursday.

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He noted that Sections 2 and 29 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021 establish NUPRC and NMDPRA respectively, while Sections 11(3) and 34(3) of the Act empower the president to appoint their chief executives, subject to Senate confirmation for a renewable five-year term.

Sumaila added that the joint committee conducted an extensive screening exercise, which he said included interactive sessions with the nominees to assess their qualifications, professional competence and responses to questions from lawmakers.

The Senate consequently dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report.

Following voice votes, the lawmakers unanimously approved the confirmation of both nominees and adopted the committee’s recommendations at plenary.

The Star