Senate Confirms Magnus Abe as NUPRC Chairman

The Senate has confirmed Magnus Abe as the chairman of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). Abe, a former lawmaker representing the Rivers South-East Senatorial District, was screened by the Senate Committee on Petroleum Resources (Upstream) chaired by Senator Eteng Jonah Williams (Cross River Central).

His nomination was forwarded by President Bola Tinubu, who had earlier written to the Senate on January 5, 2026, seeking confirmation for 21 nominees to the NUPRC board. During the screening, Abe discussed the impact of global oil prices and the challenges facing Nigeria's fuel pricing, emphasizing that the issues are not solely Nigerian but part of a global crisis.

He called for prayers to end conflicts affecting the oil sector and highlighted the need for modern technology to address long-standing issues like oil theft. Paul Jezhi, during the screening, identified discrepancies in crude oil measurement and recommended the use of drone and satellite technology to enhance surveillance against oil theft and pipeline vandalism, particularly in the Niger Delta.