President Bola Tinubu has forwarded fresh requests to the Nigerian Senate, seeking confirmation of new chief executives for two key petroleum regulatory agencies following the resignation of their current heads.
The requests were sent in separate letters to the Senate on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, according to an official statement released by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, has resigned from his position. Also stepping down is Gbenga Komolafe, who served as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari after the Petroleum Industry Act was signed into law. The Act restructured Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and created the two regulatory bodies to oversee upstream, midstream, and downstream operations.
Following their exit, President Tinubu moved quickly to nominate new leaders for the agencies, asking the Senate to begin the confirmation process in line with constitutional requirements.
The Presidency has not yet disclosed the names of the nominees, while further details on the leadership changes are expected to be announced soon.