Allegations of Corruption: Tinubu Moves to Replace NMDPRA and NUPRC Bosses

Following allegations of corruption by industrialist Aliko Dangote, Newsbuka understands that Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu is making efforts to replace the leaders of two key petroleum regulatory bodies, including one involved in corruption allegations by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote.
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‎A statement issued on Wednesday, indicated that Farouk Ahmed of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) have stepped down from their respective roles.
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‎Presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, confirmed that the Presidency has nominated replacements for the departing executives.
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‎According to Onanuga, President Tinubu has formally written to the Senate, seeking approval for the appointment of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA.
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‎The statement further revealed that the request for expedited confirmation follows the resignations of Engineer Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe, who were appointed in 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the agencies established by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
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‎Both nominees bring extensive experience in the oil and gas sector. Ms Eyesan, an Economics graduate of the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) and its subsidiaries.
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‎She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, from 2019 to 2023.
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‎Mr Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe State, holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria (1981). He was recently appointed an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.
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