Tinubu Asks Senate To Confirm NMDPRA Executive Directors, Board Secretary

President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm the appointments of seven Executive Directors and the Secretary of the Board of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

Tinubu’s request was contained in a letter addressed to the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and read at plenary on Tuesday.

In the letter, the President said the appointments were made in accordance with Section 41, Subsections 2 and 3 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), 2021.

The President listed three nominees for reappointment, including Mr Abiodun Adeniji as Executive Director, Finance and Accounts; Mr Ogbugo Ukoha as Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and

Dr Mustapha Lamode as Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community.

The nominees for new appointments are: Mr Mobolaji Musa, Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installation and Partnership; Ms Ogechukwu Modie, Executive Director, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning; and Mr Said Abutali, Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration.

Also nominated is Mrs Jumoke Gafar as Secretary of the Board and Legal Adviser.

Tinubu expressed hope that the Senate would consider and confirm the nominees in its usual expeditious manner.

He urged the lawmakers to give the appointments the necessary legislative consideration in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act.

Following the presentation of the letter, Senate President Akpabio referred the nominations to the Senate Committees on Petroleum Resources (Downstream) and Petroleum Resources (Gas) for further legislative consideration.

The committees were directed to examine the nominations and report back to plenary within one week.

The confirmation process is expected to determine the composition of the NMDPRA’s executive management and board secretariat in line with the statutory provisions governing the petroleum regulatory authority.