By Naomi Sharang, with Expert Analysis
Abuja, Dec. 19, 2025
The Nigerian Senate has formally confirmed the appointments of two pivotal figures to lead the nation’s restructured oil and gas regulatory bodies: Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Saidu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This confirmation marks a critical step in the full operationalization of the landmark Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) of 2021, which dismantled the old, monolithic Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR).
Beyond the Headlines: The Significance of a Dual-Regulator Model
This confirmation is not merely a routine personnel change. It represents the cementing of a new governance architecture for Africa’s largest oil producer. The PIA’s creation of two distinct agencies—NUPRC for upstream (exploration and production) and NMDPRA for midstream (transportation, refining) and downstream (distribution, retail)—aims to foster specialized oversight, reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, and attract investment by providing clearer regulatory pathways.
The Legal Mandate and Confirmation Process
The Senate acted on a request from President Bola Tinubu, fulfilling its constitutional ‘checks and balances’ role as outlined in the PIA. As explained by Senator Kawu Sumaila, Chairman of the joint committee that conducted the screening, Sections 11(3) and 34(3) of the Act grant the President the power to appoint these CEOs, subject to Senate confirmation, for a renewable five-year term. This ensures that appointees possess not only executive favor but also legislative scrutiny.
The joint committee’s screening process, described as “extensive,” involved interactive sessions to assess the nominees’ qualifications, professional competence, and vision for the sectors they will regulate. Senator Sumaila reported that the committee was satisfied with their expertise and responses, leading to a unanimous recommendation for confirmation. Following a voice vote in the ‘Committee of the Whole,’ the Senate approved both appointments.
Defining the Roles: What NUPRC and NMDPRA Actually Do
To understand the weight of these confirmations, one must grasp the agencies’ distinct mandates:
- NUPRC (Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan): This commission regulates everything from the wellhead onwards. Its core functions include administering exploration licenses, ensuring environmental compliance for oil fields, managing upstream fiscal operations (royalties, rents), and enforcing metering and production quotas. Eyesan’s role is central to maximizing Nigeria’s hydrocarbon resource recovery and revenue.
- NMDPRA (Saidu Mohammed): This authority takes over once oil or gas leaves the field. It regulates pipelines, refineries, gas processing plants, petrochemicals, and the retail sale of petroleum products. A key challenge for Mohammed will be enforcing the much-discussed deregulation of petrol prices, ensuring fair competition, and overseeing the expansion of Nigeria’s domestic gas utilization and distribution networks.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, presiding over the session, framed the appointments as a “call to national service.” He urged the new CEOs to discharge their duties diligently to “promote the interests of Nigeria and strengthen the petroleum sector.” His commendation of the committee’s “thorough and timely exercise” underscores the legislative branch’s intent to see the PIA’s promise of transparency and efficiency realized.
Looking Ahead: Immediate Challenges and Expectations
The confirmed CEOs assume office at a complex juncture. Eyesan’s NUPRC must grapple with persistent crude oil theft, stalled deep-water project investments, and the global energy transition’s pressure on fossil fuels. Mohammed’s NMDPRA faces the Herculean tasks of stabilizing the often-volatile fuel supply chain, attracting private investment into refining and pipeline infrastructure, and implementing robust safety and quality standards across the value chain.
Their confirmation, therefore, is not the end of a process but the beginning of a critical implementation phase. Their performance will be a key determinant of whether the PIA can truly transform Nigeria’s oil and gas industry from a resource-rich sector plagued by inefficiency into a modern, competitive, and revenue-generating engine for national development.
(NAN) (www.nannews.ng)
NNL/WAS
Edited by ‘Wale Sadeeq
