The Nigerian Senate has confirmed the appointment of board members of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission.
They are Ibrahim Modibbo as Chairman; Engr. Gbenga Komolafe – Chief Executive; Hassan Gambo – Executive Commissioner, Finance and Accounts; and Ms Rose C. Ndong as the Executive Commissioner, Exploration and Acreage Management.
The confirmation of their appointment by President Muhammadu Buhari followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), chaired by Senator Albert Bassey Akpan.
Senator Akpan confirmed that the nominees demonstrated sufficient knowledge of the workings of the petroleum industry, especially the upstream petroleum sector, as well as the economics of petroleum exploration and production.
According to him, “There are no adverse reports against the nominees as record checks and other forms of investigations by security agencies did not reveal any negative trace against them.”
Senator Akpan stated that the committee was satisfied with the qualifications, experience, suitability, competence and integrity of the nominees to assume the position of Chairman, Chief Executive and Executive Commissioners of the Nigerian Upstream Regulatory Commission.
President of the Senate, Dr Ahmad Lawan said the establishment of the commission would provide a foundation for the stabilization of the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
“The Regulatory Commission has the enormous and huge responsibility of setting and establishing the commission as provided in the Petroleum Industry Act.
“They have the unenviable responsibility of ensuring that they commit themselves and work hard to provide the solid and stable foundation for that matter, that they don’t waste any time because time is of the essence.
“The petroleum industry will go through a reform process and the process has already started. This commission is one of the huge arms of those reforms that will stabilize the petroleum industry in Nigeria.
“We expect that the other regulatory authority for downstream and midstream will also be confirmed as soon as possible, so they also start their work immediately.”
PIAK
