President Bola Tinubu has nominated six executive directors for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, and forwarded their names to the Senate for confirmation.
The nominees comprise three returning directors and three new appointees, who are expected to serve five-year terms if confirmed by the Senate.
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The nominations were conveyed to the upper chamber in a letter from the President, according to a statement issued by the Presidency on Friday, October 30, 2026.
The three returning directors are Abiodun Adeniji, nominated for Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, for Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Mustapha Lamorde, for Health, Safety, Environment and Community.
The 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.
Tinubu urged the Senate to consider the nominations expeditiously, saying the appointments would promote institutional continuity and strengthen the authority’s regulatory oversight.
According to the Presidency, the President said the move would ensure “institutional continuity and strengthen the Authority’s oversight capacity.”
In a related development, Tinubu approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser.
The appointment is subject to the statutory requirements stipulated under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act.
The latest nominations come months after the President appointed Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the chief executive of the NMDPRA in April.
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The Senate’s confirmation of the six nominees will determine their formal appointment to the regulatory authority.
David Okere is a journalist and contributor to Freelanews.com, covering business, governance, public affairs, and human-interest stories with a commitment to accuracy, balance, and public interest reporting.
