Abuja, Nigeria
The heads of Nigeria’s two powerful petroleum regulatory agencies have resigned, marking a dramatic shake-up in the leadership of Africa’s largest oil-producing sector. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Gbenga Komolafe of the Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), both stepped down on Wednesday. President Bola Tinubu has already moved to fill the vacancies, asking the Senate for the “expedited confirmation” of seasoned industry veterans to take over the roles.
The exit of Mr. Ahmed follows a bitter and very public confrontation with Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote. Earlier this week, Dangote filed a formal corruption petition with the country’s anti-graft agency, alleging that Ahmed had lived beyond his means, including spending $7 million on his children’s education in Switzerland. The feud, which began in 2024 over regulatory criticisms of the new Dangote Refinery, had escalated into a national debate over transparency and oversight. While Ahmed dismissed the billionaire’s claims as “wild and spurious,” the pressure appears to have culminated in his departure, alongside his counterpart at the NUPRC.
President Tinubu has nominated Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan to lead the NUPRC and Saidu Aliyu Mohammed to head the NMDPRA. Both nominees are described as “seasoned professionals” with decades of experience; Ms. Eyesan is an oil industry veteran who spent over 30 years at the state-owned NNPC, while Mr. Mohammed is a chemical engineer and former managing director of multiple refining and gas companies. The appointments are seen as an attempt by the administration to restore stability and investor confidence in a sector that remains the backbone of the Nigerian economy.
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