President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the elevation of Ambassador Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu as Nigeria's Minister of Foreign Affairs, following the resignation of Ambassador Yusuf Tuggar, who stepped down to participate in the 2027 elections. The announcement marks a significant shift in the country’s diplomatic leadership, with Odumegwu-Ojukwu moving up from her previous role as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs.
On the same day, the President dismissed the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Saidu Mohammed, after just four months in office, in a move that underscores ongoing changes within key regulatory institutions.
According to a statement issued by the President’s Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Tinubu also nominated Ambassador Sola Enikanolaiye as the new Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, subject to Senate confirmation.
Before his nomination, Enikanolaiye, who hails from Kogi State, served as Senior Special Assistant to the President on Foreign Affairs and International Relations.
A career diplomat, Enikanolaiye brings more than three decades of experience in Nigeria’s foreign service, having previously served as Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and held postings in Addis Ababa, Belgrade, Ottawa, London, and New Delhi.
The President noted that the appointments form part of broader efforts to reposition Nigeria’s foreign policy architecture for greater efficiency, strategic engagement, and stronger global partnerships.
Tinubu congratulated the appointees and urged them to work diligently to promote Nigeria’s national interest, advance economic diplomacy, foster regional stability, and safeguard the welfare of Nigerians at home and abroad.
Meanwhile, the President also approved the nomination of Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, pending Senate confirmation.
The nomination follows recent leadership changes at the authority. After the resignation of Farouk Ahmed in December 2025, Mohammed was appointed and confirmed by the Senate, formally assuming office on December 23, 2025, before his removal.
According to the statement, the latest decision, made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Pending Senate confirmation of Umar, the most senior official at the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.
Tinubu thanked the outgoing Chief Executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours, reiterating his administration’s commitment to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.
Umar is described as a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, with a track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery. He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
The developments come amid recent criticisms of oil sector regulators, who have in the past faced allegations of wrongdoing.
