Tinubu nominates six directors for Nigeria’s petroleum regulator, seeks Senate approval
Nigeria’s President Bola Tinubu has nominated six executive directors for the country’s petroleum regulator, sending their names to the Senate for confirmation. The nominations were announced on Friday, 30 October 2026, and cover the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), the body that oversees the middle and retail ends of Nigeria’s oil and gas industry.
Three of the six are serving directors put forward for another term: Abiodun Adeniji, who oversees Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, who oversees Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamorde, who oversees Health, Safety, Environment and Community. The three new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, for Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, for Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, for Corporate Services and Administration.
If the Senate confirms them, each will serve a five-year term. Tinubu asked the Senate to consider the names quickly, saying this would keep the regulator running smoothly and strengthen its oversight, according to a statement from his spokesman, Bayo Onanuga. The president also approved Jumoke Gafar as the regulator’s board secretary and legal adviser, subject to the procedures set out in Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The nominations follow Tinubu’s appointment in April 2026 of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the authority’s chief executive. The NMDPRA regulates refining, pipelines, storage, distribution and fuel retailing — the parts of the oil industry between the wellhead and the filling station.
Why it matters
The regulator sets the rules for how fuel is refined, moved, stored and sold in Nigeria, where fuel prices and supply affect almost every household and business. A full leadership team gives it a steadier hand at a time when Nigeria is overhauling its oil sector. The mix of three returning directors and three new faces keeps experience in place while bringing in fresh leadership.
What happens next
The Senate will now screen the six nominees and vote on whether to confirm them. No date for the hearings has been announced. Gafar’s appointment as board secretary will go ahead once the statutory procedures under the Petroleum Industry Act are complete.
This article is for general information and education only. It is not legal or financial advice.
Sources
- https://von.gov.ng/president-tinubu-seeks-senate-confirmation-of-petroleum-authority-directors/ (Voice of Nigeria, 30 October 2026)
- https://thenetwork.ng/tinubu-nominates-six-executive-directors-for-nmdpra-seeks-senate-approval/ (The Network, 30 October 2026)
