Senate confirms Magnus Abe, two others as NUPRC board members

The Senate has confirmed the appointments of former lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe, as Non-Executive Chairman of the Board of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), alongside two other nominees as Non-Executive Commissioners.

The confirmations followed the consideration and adoption of the report of the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), which screened the nominees earlier appointed by President Bola Tinubu.

Williams Eteng, the Chairman of the committee, had earlier moved a motion for the Senate to receive and consider the report on the screening of the nominees for appointment into the board of the commission.

Presenting the report, Eteng stated that it met on March 10, 2026, to consider the President’s request and subsequently screened the nominees.

“The committee, having screened the nominees and satisfied with their qualifications, expertise and responses, hereby recommends that the Senate do confirm the nomination of Senator Magnus Abe as the Board Non-Executive Chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission,” the report read in part.

Following the presentation, the Senate dissolved into the Committee of the Whole to consider the report clause-by-clause before reverting to plenary for final approval.

The Red Chamber, through voice votes, confirmed Abe as Non-Executive Chairman, as well as Joseph Yaroe and Sunday Adebayo as Non-Executive Commissioners of the commission.

Announcing the decision, Godswill Akpabio, the Senate President commended the committee for what he described as a diligent and thorough screening process.

He also charged the newly confirmed board members to bring their expertise to bear in improving Nigeria’s petroleum sector, particularly in boosting crude oil production.

“I hope that their contributions will uplift and increase production in the petroleum industry, particularly the daily crude oil that we so require for the benefit of this country,” he said.

The Senate President further congratulated the appointees and urged them to justify the confidence reposed in them through effective service delivery.