President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of new chief executives for Nigeria’s oil regulatory agencies to the Senate for confirmation after the resignation of the current heads of the institutions.
The affected agencies are the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. The development followed the decision of their respective chief executives to step aside from office.
Farouk Ahmed resigned from his position as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, while Gbenga Komolafe also stepped down as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. Both officials were appointed in 2021 during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari after the Petroleum Industry Act came into force.
The President’s request for Senate confirmation was conveyed through separate letters sent to the upper legislative chamber. The communication informed lawmakers of the vacancies and the need to approve new leadership for the agencies to ensure continued regulation of the oil and gas sector.
The development was made public in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who confirmed that the resignations prompted the nomination of new executives.
Further details on the nominees are expected as the Senate begins the confirmation process.