President Bola Tinubu has requested the swift confirmation of new leadership for Nigeria’s upstream, midstream, and downstream petroleum regulators, invoking the urgency provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA 2021).

On Thursday, the Senate screened the nominees, Engineer Saidu Muhammad for Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan for Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Both are expected to be confirmed on Friday.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio announced that two letters from President Tinubu had been received seeking approval for the appointments following the resignations of the immediate past heads, Farouk Ahmed (NMDPRA) and Gbenga Komolafe (NUPRC), who were appointed in 2021 under former President Buhari.

The President emphasized that delays could create a leadership vacuum in agencies responsible for critical functions, including authorisation of vessel movements and upstream petroleum regulation. Both nominations were referred to the Committee of the Whole for immediate screening.

The confirmation process comes amid heightened scrutiny of the regulators. On December 16, 2025, billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against former NMDPRA MD Farouk Ahmed, alleging corruption, abuse of office, and illicit enrichment.

Dangote’s petition claims Ahmed spent over $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland—funds allegedly beyond the means of a public servant. The petition calls for investigation, prosecution, and recovery of diverted public funds, accusing Ahmed of using the authority for private enrichment at the expense of Nigerians.

The Senate is expected to conclude the confirmation on Friday, paving the way for the new leadership of Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory agencies.