Tinubu seeks Senate confirmation of seven NMDPRA nominees

President Bola Tinubu. Photo: State House

President Bola Tinubu on Tuesday asked the Senate to confirm the appointments and reappointments of seven executive directors and the Board Secretary of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.

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

In his letter, the President said “The appointments were made in accordance with Section 41, subsections 2 and 3 of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.”

The three nominees for reappointment are Abiodun Adeniji, Executive Director, Finance and Accounts; Ogbugo Ukoha, Executive Director, Distribution Systems, Storage and Retailing Infrastructure; and Dr Mustapha Lamode, Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community.

The four nominees for new appointments are Mobolaji Musa, Executive Director, Hydrocarbon Processing Plants, Installation and Partnership; Ogechukwu Modie, Executive Director, Economic Regulation and Strategic Planning; Said Abutali, Executive Director, Corporate Services and Administration; and Jumoke Gafar, Board Secretary and Legal Adviser.

Tinubu urged the Senate to consider and confirm the nominees, while Akpabio expressed hope that the lawmakers would conclude the exercise expeditiously.

The Senate President subsequently referred the request to the relevant committees on Petroleum Resources for further legislative consideration and directed them to report back to the chamber within one week.

The NMDPRA is one of the regulatory agencies established under the Petroleum Industry Act to oversee Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sectors, including the transportation, storage, distribution and marketing of petroleum products.