Tinubu Nominates Six NMDPRA Executive Directors, Names New Board Legal Adviser

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has nominated six executive directors for the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), forwarding their names to the Senate for confirmation.

The nominations comprise three returning executive directors and three new appointees, who will each serve a five-year term if confirmed by the Senate.

The development is aimed at ensuring institutional continuity and strengthening the regulatory authority’s oversight capacity in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.

The three executive directors nominated for reappointment are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director of Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Kalu Ukoha, Executive Director of Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Mustapha Lamorde, Executive Director of Health, Safety, Environment and Community.

The new nominees are Mobolaji Tajudeen Musa, nominated as Executive Director of Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installations and Transportation Infrastructure; Ogechukwu Modie, for Economic Regulations and Strategic Planning; and Said Abutalib, for Corporate Services and Administration.

President Tinubu has urged the Senate to expedite consideration of the nominations to facilitate continuity in the authority’s operations and enhance its regulatory effectiveness.

In a related development, the President has approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser.

The appointment is subject to the completion of the statutory procedures stipulated under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The latest appointments follow Tinubu’s appointment of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as chief executive of the regulatory agency in April.

The NMDPRA is responsible for regulating Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including activities relating to gas processing, transportation infrastructure, petroleum product distribution and retailing.

The nominations and appointments form part of the administration’s efforts to strengthen the leadership and institutional capacity of the authority responsible for overseeing these critical segments of the petroleum industry.