Director of News at Arise Television, Sumner Sambo, has said that long before the recent resignations at Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory agencies, some individuals linked to President Bola Tinubu’s administration had been positioning themselves for top roles within the sector.
Sambo noted that aside from the corruption allegations raised by President of Dangote Refinery, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, there had been sustained pressure from interests within the Tinubu administration seeking control of strategic positions such as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
His comments followed the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed as CEO of NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe as CEO of NUPRC. Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to head the agencies created under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
According to Sambo, it is common in Nigeria’s oil and gas industry for incoming governments to attract loyalists who aspire to occupy key regulatory positions.
“Anyone who understands how the petroleum and gas industry works in Nigeria knows that once a new government comes in, there are always people who would be eyeing these positions,” he said.
He explained that the leadership of the agencies often comes under pressure to meet certain expectations set by political actors, adding that failure to align with such expectations can lead to tensions.
Sambo stated that Gbenga Komolafe, in particular, had faced sustained pressure despite what he described as strong performance in office. He cited Komolafe’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s oil metering system, which has long been criticized as porous, and his engagement of private firms to upgrade production measurement as notable achievements.
He also clarified that the two officials were not formally sacked but resigned, stressing that the circumstances surrounding their exits remain politically sensitive.
“Farouk Ahmed is said to have resigned due to allegations against him. But even with a resignation, questions remain about accountability and whether anti-graft agencies will pursue the allegations,” Sambo said, adding that Komolafe may have become a casualty of the broader political situation.
Meanwhile, President Bola Tinubu has forwarded names of new nominees to the Senate for confirmation. In a letter transmitted on Wednesday, the president sought approval for Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of NMDPRA.
