The Senate has screened President Bola Tinubu’s nominees to lead Nigeria’s key oil and gas regulatory agencies, as they pledged sweeping reforms anchored on digitisation, contract enforcement and investor confidence.
The nominees are Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Engineer Saidu Mohammed for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The screening followed a letter from President Tinubu, read at plenary by Senate President Godswill Akpabio, requesting legislative confirmation of both appointments.
Committees Conduct Joint Screening
Three Senate committees jointly conducted the screening. They were Petroleum Resources (Upstream), Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Gas.
Senator Eteng Jonah Williams chairs the upstream committee, while Senator Kawu Sumaila Abdulrahman leads the downstream committee. Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe heads the gas committee.
Lawmakers said the exercise came at a critical time for Nigeria’s economy and energy security.
Eyesan: Manual Systems Cost Nigeria Huge Value
Eyesan told senators that Nigeria continues to lose enormous value due to manual processes and weak data integration.
“We are still largely manual, while the world is moving at jet speed,” she said. “Without digitisation and real-time data, regulation becomes guesswork and value leaks persist.”
She stressed that effective regulation depends on transparent systems, asset integrity monitoring and accurate industry data.
Eyesan also called for stronger collaboration among regulators, operators and policymakers to resolve long-standing operational bottlenecks.
PIA Key to Upstream Growth
The NUPRC nominee said she would fully deploy the Petroleum Industry Act to reposition the upstream sector and attract fresh investments.
She described the PIA as a strong framework capable of unlocking Nigeria’s oil and gas potential if implemented consistently.
Drawing from her experience at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited, Eyesan said she had handled complex international disputes and facilitated major offshore investments.
Mohammed: Discipline Must Return to Supply Systems
Mohammed pledged to restore discipline across Nigeria’s gas and petroleum supply chains through strict contract enforcement.
“Gas is not a favour. It is a commodity,” he said. “Every link in the chain must respect enforceable contracts.”
He blamed weak contractual frameworks for persistent gas supply shortages, especially in the power sector.
Focus on Gas Infrastructure and Quality
The NMDPRA nominee said enforcing the Gas Network Code would restore order and rebuild investor confidence.
He also pledged to revive pipeline transportation of petroleum products and attract investments into gas processing infrastructure.
“You cannot enforce quality without the capacity to test and certify products yourself,” Mohammed said.
He added that domestic refining and processing must remain a priority, even as Nigeria pursues export opportunities.
Lawmakers Signal Continued Engagement
Senator Kawu Sumaila said the Senate would maintain close engagement with the nominees beyond confirmation.
He noted that boosting energy production and efficiency remains central to Nigeria’s economic recovery.
The committees are expected to submit their reports to the Senate for consideration at plenary in the coming days.