Farouk Ahmed Resigns as Tinubu Seeks Senate Nod for New Petroleum Regulators’ Heads
By Ahmed Isah
The resignation of Farouk Ahmed from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority has prompted President Bola Tinubu to seek Senate approval for new chief executives of key petroleum regulators.
Ahmed’s exit followed recent public controversy involving comments attributed to him on petroleum importation and pricing, which drew sharp reactions from Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group.
Dangote had criticised regulatory positions affecting domestic refining, particularly the operations of Dangote Refinery, urging stronger protection for local production and reduced reliance on fuel imports.
The exchange generated national debate on the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act and the balance between regulation, competition and investment in the oil and gas sector.
Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe, who also resigned as head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission, were appointed in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act reforms.
Both agencies were established by the Act to regulate Nigeria’s upstream, midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
Following their resignations, Tinubu wrote to the Senate seeking expedited confirmation of new nominees to lead the agencies.
The President nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
He also nominated Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
According to the presidency, the nominations were aimed at ensuring regulatory stability and sustained implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
Eyesan is a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin and spent nearly 33 years with the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its subsidiaries.
She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream, in 2024, after serving as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy, from 2019 to 2023.
Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981.
He was recently announced as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy and previously served as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company.
Mohammed also chaired the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas subsidiaries and Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited Retail.
As Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power Directorate, he provided leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including aspects of the Petroleum Industry Act.
He played key roles in projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion and the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline.
