WorldStage– The Senate Committee on Petroleum Downstream has issued a stern warning to regulatory agencies in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector against acts of administrative sabotage, institutional inefficiency, and deliberate obstruction of government policies.
The Chairman of the Committee, Senator Suleiman Kawu Sumaila (APC, Kano South), delivered the warning on Thursday at the National Assembly.
He spoke during the screening of seven nominees forwarded by President Bola Tinubu for executive director positions at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
In his opening remarks, Senator Sumaila expressed deep concern over administrative bottlenecks, lack of transparency, and deliberate non-compliance with established regulations within certain government agencies and parastatals.
The lawmaker declared that the National Assembly would no longer tolerate practices that weaken regulatory institutions, erode public confidence, or frustrate President Tinubu’s reform agenda for the petroleum industry.
“Some agencies are simply not helping Mr President in the actualisation of his vision for the petroleum sector. This must stop,” Senator Sumaila stated.
He cautioned the incoming executive directors that under the committee’s oversight, any conduct that undermines the effective implementation of federal policies would attract legislative scrutiny.
“Sabotaging public institutions and government policies is ultimately sabotaging the future and economic prosperity of Nigeria,” he added.
Beyond internal administrative reforms, the committee chairman acknowledged the severe economic hardship facing Nigerians due to the rising cost of petroleum products.
He urged the regulatory nominees to look beyond routine enforcement and develop practical, innovative measures to ease the financial burden on citizens, ensure national energy security, and foster healthy market competition.
The seven nominees screened during the session include Abiodun Adeiji (Executive Director, Finance and Accounts), Ogbugo Kalu (Executive Director, Distribution, Systems Storage and Retailing Infrastructure), and Mustapha Lamorde (Executive Director, Health, Safety, Environment and Community), alongside four others.
Senator Sumaila charged all the nominees to uphold the highest standards of professionalism, integrity, and patriotism, reminding them that their primary statutory mandate is to uphold the law and protect the public interest.
He noted that repositioning the midstream and downstream sectors is critical to unlocking new investments and driving sustainable economic growth across the country.
