Dangote Wins Big as Tinubu Sweeps Out Farouk, Komolafe in Major Oil Sector Shake-Up

ABUJA - Nigeria's oil and gas sector was thrown into fresh political and regulatory turbulence on Wednesday as Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Gbenga Komolafe, head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), formally resigned from office.

The development comes barely days after sustained controversies, intense public scrutiny, and high-level political pressure that shook the petroleum regulatory landscape.

In a swift move signaling decisive executive action, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has transmitted the names of two new nominees to the Senate for confirmation, effectively marking a new chapter in the leadership of Nigeria's oil and gas regulators.

In a statement issued by the President's Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the Presidency confirmed that the resignations of Ahmed and Komolafe necessitated the immediate nomination of their successors.

According to the statement, President Tinubu has requested the Senate's expedited screening and confirmation of:

Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC

Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA

Both nominees are described as seasoned industry technocrats with decades of experience across Nigeria's petroleum value chain.

Ahmed and Komolafe were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the enactment of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which split the former DPR into two powerful regulators.

Their exit now marks the first major reset of the PIA-era leadership under President Tinubu, raising questions about regulatory direction, reform priorities, and political realignments within the energy sector.

Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, an Economics graduate of the University of Benin, brings nearly 33 years of experience at NNPC and its subsidiaries, retiring as Executive Vice President, Upstream in 2024. She previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, positioning her as a key architect of Nigeria's upstream reforms.

Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, a Chemical Engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, has held top roles across Nigeria's gas and refining sub-sector. His portfolio includes leadership positions at Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Nigerian Gas Company, and board-level roles in Nigeria LNG, West African Gas Pipeline Company, and NNPC Retail.

He also played pivotal roles in landmark projects such as the AKK Gas Pipeline, Escravos-Lagos Pipeline Expansion, and the Nigeria LNG Train projects, while contributing to frameworks underpinning the Petroleum Industry Act.

Industry watchers say the shake-up signals Tinubu's readiness to assert firmer control over a sector central to Nigeria's economy, investment climate, and fuel security. With new leadership poised to take over, expectations are high for policy clarity, investor confidence, and regulatory stability.