Senate Screening Highlights Plans for Digitisation, Gas Development, and Investor Confidence under the Petroleum Industry Act
President Bola Tinubu’s nominees for the leadership of Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory agencies have outlined bold plans to overhaul the country’s oil and gas sector, pledging reforms aimed at curbing losses, enhancing oversight, and attracting new investments under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
During a Senate screening session held at Room 117 shortly after plenary on Thursday, Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, nominated to head the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), and Saidu Mohammed, nominee for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), shared their vision for transforming the sector.
Both nominees stressed the importance of digitisation, stringent contract enforcement, accurate data management, and accelerated gas development as central pillars of their leadership. Their presentations come as Nigeria navigates declining oil revenues and global energy transition pressures.
Eyesan, slated to oversee upstream operations, emphasized that reliance on outdated, manual systems is costing Nigeria significant revenue.
“We are still largely manual, while the world is moving at jet speed. Without digitisation and real-time data, you cannot truly understand what you are regulating, and you will continue to lose money,” she said, highlighting the need for precise data, transparent systems, and rigorous asset monitoring.
She also pointed to the need for collaboration between regulators, operators, and policymakers to resolve long-standing bottlenecks in the upstream sector. Eyesan pledged to fully leverage the Petroleum Industry Act to make Nigeria a competitive destination for global energy investment.
A graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, Eyesan brings nearly 33 years of experience at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its subsidiaries, retiring as Executive Vice President, Upstream. She played a key role in dispute resolution with international partners, restoring investor confidence during divestment threats, and facilitating multi-billion-dollar deep offshore investments. Notably, she signed Nigeria’s first non-associated gas development contract and helped increase crude oil production from 1.3 million barrels per day to 1.8 million barrels per day during her tenure.
“Having worked as an operator and participated in resource development, I believe I have the competence to regulate the industry and ensure we maximise the enormous opportunities before us,” she told senators.
Mohammed, the NMDPRA nominee, focused on restoring discipline in gas and petroleum supply chains by strictly enforcing contracts and quality standards.
“Gas is not a favour; it is a commodity. It must be sold based on enforceable contracts from the producer to the transporter and the end-user,” he said, pointing out that weak contractual frameworks have fueled persistent gas shortages, especially in the power sector.
Mohammed stressed the importance of domestic refining and processing capacity to ensure energy security, warning that neglect could lead the sector to decline as Nigeria’s textile industry once did. He pledged to revive pipeline transport of petroleum products, attract billions in gas processing investment, and strengthen quality assurance through in-house laboratory facilities.
Born in Gombe in 1957, Mohammed is a chemical engineering graduate from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, with decades of experience across the oil and gas value chain. His career includes leadership roles as Managing Director of the Nigerian Gas Company, Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, and Group Executive Director and Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power at NNPC.
Senator Sumaila Kawu, Chairman of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream), described the screening as occurring at a critical moment for Nigeria’s economy, highlighting the link between energy production, efficiency, and national recovery. He noted that follow-up engagements with the nominees will continue into January to ensure effective legislative-regulatory collaboration, with the Senate expected to consider the committee’s report soon.
The nominations come after the resignation of pioneer executives Gbenga Komolafe (NUPRC) and Farouk Ahmed (NMDPRA), who were appointed in 2021 following the implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act.
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