PRESSURE GROUP DEMANDS SACK OF NUPRC DIRECTORS, HAILS NEW CEO APPOINTMENT

A pro-democracy pressure group, the Tinubu-Shettima Leadership Forum, has called on the Federal Government to immediately reassign seven Executive Commissioners and a Head of department at the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission. This demand follows the recent appointment of Mrs. Oritsemeiywa Eyesan as the Commission’s new Chief Executive Officer.

The group, in a statement signed by its Director General, Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon, commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the bold decision to appoint Mrs. Eyesan. “This appointment demonstrates your commitment to good governance, transparency, and accountability in the oil and gas sector in line with the Renewed Hope agenda Policy Thrust,” the statement read. The group congratulated Mrs. Eyesan and expressed confidence in her ability to bring needed expertise and integrity to the role.

However, the forum warned that leaving the current leadership team in place would sabotage reform efforts. The group accused the outgoing CEO, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe, and his team of running the agency, established in 2021 after the Petroleum Industry Act, like a private company without due process. Ekamon stated that the directors had allegedly misled and enabled the former chief executive.

Prince Michael Newgent Ekamon further argued that keeping the directors would set the stage for the new leadership to fail. “Leaving the same directors, who allegedly misled the former chief executive at NUPRC without reassigning them will amount to setting the ugly stage for the new leadership of NUPRC to fail because the concerned directors will still be loyal to the former chief executive,” the statement said. The group demanded the immediate sack, arrest, and prosecution of the listed officials.

The officials named include Lamido Muhammad Sabo, Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts; Capt. John Roland Tlonlagha, Executive Commissioner, Health, Safety, Environment and Community; Dr. Kelechi O. Ofiegbu, Executive Commissioner, Corporate Services and Administration; and Mr. Indabawa Bashari Alka, Executive Commissioner, Exploration and Acreage Management. Others are Mr. Babajide Oluwole Fasina, Executive Commissioner, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning; Mr. Enorense Amadasu, Executive Commissioner, Development and Production; Barr. Olayemi Adegboyejo, Executive Commissioner, Secretary and Legal Adviser; and Mrs. Tola Fadeni Omowumi, Head of Contract and Procurement.

The TSLF urged the government to take swift action to restore public trust. Ekamon reiterated the forum’s support for the administration’s sector reforms while congratulating Mrs. Eyesan once more and wishing her success. The group emphasized the need to create an enabling environment for the new CEO by reassigning the affected directors without further delay.