The Senate has confirmed the appointments of Saidu Mohammed and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as chief executive officers of Nigeria’s two main petroleum regulatory bodies.
Eyesan was confirmed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, while Mohammed was approved as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
The confirmations followed the consideration and adoption of a report by the Senate Joint Committee on Petroleum covering the upstream, downstream and gas sectors, which screened the nominees.
The appointments were made in response to a request from President Bola Tinubu, who sought the Senate’s approval in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.
Presenting the committee’s report, its chairman, Senator Kawu Sumaila, said the nominations were referred to the relevant committees after plenary on December 18. He explained that the Petroleum Industry Act established both regulatory agencies and empowers the president to appoint their chief executives, subject to Senate confirmation, for a renewable five-year term.
Sumaila said the joint committee carried out a detailed screening process, including interactive sessions with the nominees, to assess their qualifications, professional experience and ability to respond to questions from lawmakers.
He told the chamber that the committee was satisfied with the nominees’ credentials and performance during the screening and therefore recommended their confirmation.
Following the presentation, the Senate resolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report. The lawmakers subsequently approved the nominations through a voice vote, adopting the committee’s recommendations at plenary.
Deputy Senate President Jibrin Barau, who presided over the session, praised the joint committee for completing the exercise promptly despite time constraints. He congratulated the newly confirmed chief executives and urged them to regard their appointments as a responsibility to serve the country.
“You have been called to serve our nation. We expect you to carry out your duties diligently in a way that promotes Nigeria’s interests and strengthens the petroleum sector,” Barau said.
He also commended the leadership and members of the joint committee, noting that their work would contribute to improved regulatory oversight and efficiency in the oil and gas industry.
