By Adedapo Adesanya

President Bola Tinubu has approved the reconstitution of the board of the Nigerian Electricity Regulatory Commission (NERC), following the Senate’s confirmation of its members on December 16.

This was disclosed in a statement released by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga.

He noted that the board is chaired by Mr Musiliu Olalekan Oseni, who started his service as a Commissioner in January 2017. He was subsequently appointed Vice Chairman of the commission.

His appointment as Chairman took effect from December 1, 2025, and shall subsist until the completion of his ten-year tenure at the commission, in accordance with the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2023.

Mr Yusuf Ali is now the Vice Chairman. He was first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022. His designation as Vice Chairman took effect on 1 December 2025 and shall remain in effect until the completion of his first term.

The others are; Mr Nathan Rogers Shatti — Commissioner. He is serving a second term as commissioner. He was first appointed in January 2017.

Mr Dafe Akpeneye — Commissioner. He is serving a second term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in January 2017.

Mrs Aisha Mahmud Kanti Bello — Commissioner. She is serving her second term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in December 2020.

Mr Chidi Ike, PhD— Commissioner. He is serving his first term, having been first appointed as a Commissioner in February 2022.

Mr Fouad Animashaun, PhD — Commissioner. He is serving his first term, effective December 2025. He is an energy economist with extensive experience in the Nigerian power sector and most recently served as Executive Commissioner and Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State Electricity Regulatory Commission.

President Tinubu charged the board members of NERC to deepen and consolidate the ongoing transformation of Nigeria’s power sector, in strict alignment with the letter and spirit of the Electricity Act, 2023.

By Adedapo Adesanya

The chief executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Farouk Ahmed, has resigned alongside his counterpart at the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), Mr Gbenga Komolafe.

Based on the development, President Bola Tinubu has asked the Senate to confirm new chief executives for the two agencies.

The President’s request was contained in separate letters to the Senate on Wednesday, according to a statement signed by Mr Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, late on Wednesday.

Both officials were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the two regulatory agencies created by the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

To fill these positions, President Tinubu has written to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation of Mrs Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Mr Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.

Mr Ahmed’s resignation comes amid a high-profile conflict with businessman, Mr Aliko Dangote, who alleged that the NMDPRA chief and his family were living beyond their legitimate means, citing millions of Dollars allegedly spent on overseas schooling for his four children.

Mr Eyesan, a graduate of Economics from the University of Benin, spent nearly 33 years with the NNPC and its subsidiaries. She retired as Executive Vice President, Upstream (2023–2024), and previously served as Group General Manager, Corporate Planning and Strategy at NNPC from 2019 to 2023.

Mr Mohammed, born in 1957 in Gombe, graduated from Ahmadu Bello University in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering. He was announced today as an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.

His prior roles include Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as Chair of the boards of West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.

He also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate, where he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).

He played a pivotal role in delivering key projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train.

By Adedapo Adesanya

Transcorp Hotels Plc has appointed Mrs Awele Vivien Elumelu as the chair of its board, effective January 1, 2026.

Her appointment follows the scheduled retirement of the current chairman, Mr Emmanuel N. Nnorom.

Mrs Elumelu, a medical doctor with an MBBS from the University of Benin (UNIBEN) and clinical experience in Nigeria and the United Kingdom, brings extensive experience in healthcare, insurance, corporate governance, and philanthropy. She is married to the chairman of Transcorp Plc, Mr Tony Elumelu.

She currently chairs Avon Healthcare Limited, a Nigerian health maintenance organisation, and Avon Medical Practice, a network of hospitals and clinics.

She also chairs Heirs Insurance Brokers and serves as a founding Director of Heirs Holdings Limited. Her executive education includes programmes at Harvard Business School, IMD Switzerland, and the London School of Economics.

According to a statement, her appointment highlights a strategic focus on integrating innovation, wellness, and responsible business practices into Transcorp Hotels’ operations. Mrs Elumelu is also a trustee and co-founder of the Tony Elumelu Foundation, through which she has supported more than 24,000 African entrepreneurs with training, seed capital, and mentorship, while advancing gender inclusion.

Commenting on the appointment, Mr Elumelu tasked his wife to deliver value to stakeholders.

“We are delighted to welcome Dr Awele Elumelu as the board chair of Transcorp Hotels. Her distinguished track record perfectly aligns with our ambition to redefine hospitality through innovation, wellness integration, and responsible business practices. Her strategic insight will be invaluable, as we continue to elevate guest experiences and deliver sustainable value to all stakeholders,” he said.

Transcorp Hotels Plc is the hospitality subsidiary of Transnational Corporation Plc. The firm manages prominent properties including the Transcorp Hilton Abuja and the recently launched 5,000-seat Transcorp Centre. It is part of Transcorp Group’s diversified investments across power, hospitality, and energy sectors in Africa.