The Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) has expressed strong support for ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
The group described recent regulatory leadership changes as decisive steps to reposition the industry for growth, stability, and global competitiveness.
National Chairman of PANDEF, Godknows Igali, speaking at a news conference in Abuja on Friday, hailed President Bola Tinubu for making bold, well-considered appointments in the petroleum sector, particularly in regulatory institutions.
He lauded the appointment of Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), describing it as “putting a square peg in a square hole.”
According to Igali, Eyesan’s extensive experience and proven competence place her in a strong position to drive far-reaching reforms in the upstream petroleum sector, enhancing efficiency and governance.
He highlighted her credentials as an accomplished economist and former Executive Vice President (Upstream) at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), noting her diligence, professionalism, and impactful leadership.
Igali said Eyesan’s appointment not only demonstrated the administration’s commitment to merit-based governance but also served as an inspiration for women in the oil and gas industry.
In the same vein, PANDEF commended the appointment of Saidu Mohammed as CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, emphasising competent leadership across all segments of the sector.
The forum said the emergence of capable leaders in upstream, midstream, and downstream segments reflected a deliberate presidential strategy to reposition the industry for a “quantum leap” into the future.
Igali expressed optimism that the reforms would be comprehensive and sustained, noting that consistent policy direction and leadership were critical for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector to maintain its central role in the economy.
However, PANDEF renewed its demand for greater inclusion of Niger Delta professionals in strategic leadership positions across the petroleum industry, particularly within the NNPC and its subsidiaries.
The group stressed that the Niger Delta, as the hub of Nigeria’s oil production, had the highest concentration of seasoned professionals and deserved adequate representation at the highest decision-making levels.
Beyond appointments, PANDEF urged the Federal Government to intensify efforts to address environmental degradation in the Niger Delta, insisting remediation must go beyond the ongoing Ogoni clean-up.
The forum called for a comprehensive and sustained environmental restoration programme, supported by annual budgetary allocations, to tackle decades of pollution and ecological damage in oil-producing communities across the region.
