Senate clears Magnus Abe as NUPRC board chair, confirms two others

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The Senate on Tuesday confirmed Magnus Abe as the chairman of the board of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), approving a key appointment in Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory architecture.

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The NUPRC, established under the Petroleum Industry Act, oversees the regulation of Nigeria’s upstream petroleum sector, making its board composition critical to policy direction and industry oversight.

The Senate also confirmed Sunday Adebayo and Paul Yaro as non-executive commissioners of the commission.

The confirmations followed the presentation and adoption of a report by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream), which screened the nominees earlier in March.

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Chaired by Eteng Williams, the committee reviewed the credentials of the nominees forwarded to the Senate after President Bola Tinubu nominated them for appointments to the NUPRC board.

During his screening, Mr Abe, who represented Rivers South-East District for two terms, was accorded the parliamentary courtesy often extended to former lawmakers and asked to “take a bow and go”—a practice that exempts them from rigorous questioning on the floor.

His confirmation marks the former senator’s return to public office, where he remains an influential figure in Rivers State politics.

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Mr Abe’s political trajectory has also drawn attention in recent years, particularly his evolving relationship with Nyesom Wike, the minister of the Federal Capital Territory. Once a vocal critic of Mr Wike, the former lawmaker is now a political ally of the minister.