Abuja: President Bola Tinubu has forwarded 21 names to the Senate for confirmation as board members of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga announced the nominations in a statement on Monday.
In his first letter, Tinubu named former Rivers South-East Senator Magnus Abe as Chairman of the NUPRC Board. Abe, a two-term senator and former NNPC board member, currently chairs the National Agency for the Great Green Wall.
Other non-executive nominees include Paul Jezhi, ex-Chairman of the Trade Union Congress in Kaduna, and Sunday Babalola, former Deputy Director of the defunct Department of Petroleum Resources.
Executive commissioners nominated to the NUPRC Board are Muhammed Lamido (Finance), Edu Inyang (Exploration and Acreage), Justin Ezeala (Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning), Henry Oki (Development and Production), Indabawa Alka (Corporate Services and Administration), Mahmood Tijani (Health, Safety and Environment), and Olayemi Adeboyejo (Secretary/Legal Adviser).
In a second letter, Tinubu nominated energy lawyer Adegbite Adeniji as Chairman of the NMDPRA Board. Adeniji, with over 30 years’ experience in energy and natural resources, previously served as Special Technical Adviser to the Minister of State for Petroleum and is currently Managing Partner at ENR Advisory.
Other nominees to the NMDPRA Board include Kenneth Kobani, former Minister of State for Trade and ex-Secretary to the Rivers State Government, and Asabe Ahmed as non-executive members.
Executive directors nominated are Abiodun Adeniji (Finance), Francis Ogaree (Hydrocarbon), Oluwole Adama (Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure), Mustapha Lamorde (Corporate Services and Administration), Yahaya Yinusa (Distribution Systems), Adeyemi Aminu (Corporate Services), Modie Ogechukwu (Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning), and Olawale Dawodu (Secretary/Legal Adviser).
The President urged the Senate to expedite confirmation, noting the recent approval of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Saidu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.
Tinubu charged all nominees to discharge their duties professionally in regulating Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
