President Bola Tinubu has forwarded six nominees for appointment as Executive Directors of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) to the Senate for confirmation.

The nominees comprise three serving directors seeking reappointment for another five-year term and three new appointees, according to a statement issued on Friday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

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

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

President Tinubu has urged the Senate to expedite the confirmation process to ensure continuity in the Authority’s operations and strengthen regulatory oversight of the midstream and downstream petroleum sectors.

In a related development, the President approved the appointment of Jumoke Gafar as Secretary to the Board/Authority and Legal Adviser, subject to the fulfilment of statutory requirements under Section 46 of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

The latest development follows Tinubu’s appointment of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Chief Executive of the NMDPRA in April, as part of efforts to restructure and strengthen the leadership of the petroleum regulatory agency.