The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointments of new chief executives for the nation's pivotal petroleum regulatory bodies, a move that has been widely commended by the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF). This development signifies a positive step in the ongoing reforms of the oil and gas sector, though PANDEF has concurrently renewed its appeals for deeper inclusion of Niger Delta professionals and urgent environmental action within the region.

The confirmations transpired following the diligent consideration and unanimous adoption of a report by the joint Senate committees responsible for screening the nominees. Senator Kawu Sumaila, who chairs the relevant committees and represents Kano South, presented this report during a plenary session presided over by the Deputy Senate President, Senator Jibrin Barau.

The confirmed appointees are Mrs. Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, who will serve as the Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Mr. Saidu Mohammed, designated as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Their appointments complete a significant leadership reset within the petroleum regulatory architecture, following the departure of their predecessors.

Senator Sumaila recounted that President Bola Tinubu had submitted a request for legislative confirmation of these nominees on December 18, 2025, in adherence to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021. This request was subsequently channeled to the relevant joint committees on petroleum for thorough screening. He elaborated that Sections 4 and 29 of the PIA establish the NUPRC and NMDPRA, respectively, while Sections 11(3) and 34(3) grant the President the authority to appoint their chief executives, subject to Senate confirmation, for a renewable five-year tenure.

The joint committees conducted what was described as a rigorous and transparent screening process. Nominees were extensively interrogated on their qualifications, professional experience, and their grasp of the mandates pertaining to their respective agencies. Senator Sumaila stated, “The Joint Committee, having screened the nominees and satisfied with their qualifications, expertise and responses to the various questions asked, hereby recommends that the Senate confirm the nomination of Eyesan as Commission Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Mohammed as Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.”

Following Sumaila's presentation, the Deputy Senate President put the recommendations to a voice vote, which was resoundingly affirmed by the lawmakers, thereby facilitating the immediate assumption of office by the newly confirmed regulators. Senator Barau commended the joint committees for their exceptional diligence and remarkable speed, noting that the screening process, which ordinarily might take weeks, was concluded within an impressively short timeframe, having been referred to the committee just the day before.

Congratulating the confirmed appointees, Senator Barau emphasized that their new roles represent a crucial call to national service. He urged them to discharge their responsibilities with utmost dedication, serving the country's best interests and aligning with the overarching reform objectives embedded within the PIA.

In response to the Senate's confirmation, PANDEF, recognized as the apex socio-political body of the Niger Delta, warmly welcomed the development. The forum characterized the appointments as a clear indication of renewed seriousness in efforts to reposition Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for enhanced growth, stability, and global competitiveness. During a press conference in Abuja, PANDEF extended its appreciation to President Tinubu for what it hailed as