President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday evening held a closed-door meeting with the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, amid escalating allegations surrounding the leadership of the petroleum regulator.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the meeting took place against the backdrop of a growing dispute between Ahmed and billionaire industrialist Alhaji Aliko Dangote, who recently accused the NMDPRA leadership of actions he claimed were harming Nigeria’s domestic refining efforts and encouraging continued fuel importation.
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The rift between both men has lingered for weeks, centring on regulatory policies in the downstream sector and the future of local refining.
Dangote, speaking during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, alleged that regulatory decisions under Ahmed’s watch amounted to economic sabotage and were deliberately frustrating indigenous refiners.
He further claimed that the continuous approval of petroleum import licences was weakening local capacity and sustaining Nigeria’s dependence on foreign fuel supplies.
Dangote also accused the regulator of working in the interest of foreign traders and importers, allegations the NMDPRA has not formally addressed.
The controversy took a more personal turn when Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA chief was living far beyond his legitimate earnings, claiming that Ahmed spends millions of dollars annually on the education of his children in Switzerland.
According to Dangote, the scale of the expenditure raised serious concerns about transparency and conflict of interest within the regulatory agency.
On Monday, the industrialist intensified the claims, alleging that over $7 million was spent on the education and upkeep of Ahmed’s children over several years, including costs allegedly linked to tertiary education abroad.
A day later, Dangote, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), requesting a full investigation and prosecution of the NMDPRA boss.
The petition reportedly detailed the names of the children, the schools attended, and specific figures, urging the anti-graft agency to verify the source of the funds used.
Amid the mounting controversy, President Tinubu subsequently forwarded names of new chief executives to the Senate for confirmation following the resignation of Farouk Ahmed of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
Both officials were appointed in 2021 under the Petroleum Industry Act during the administration of former President Muhammadu Buhari.
The President nominated Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, requesting expedited legislative approval.
Eyesan is an industry veteran with over three decades of experience at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited and its subsidiaries.
She previously served as Executive Vice President, Upstream, and held key strategic roles in corporate planning and policy formulation.
Engineer Mohammed, a chemical engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University, has also built a long career in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.
He has served as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company, alongside chairing several energy-related boards.
He played prominent roles in major gas infrastructure projects, including the AKK Gas Pipeline and Nigeria LNG expansions.
Despite the high-level meeting at the Villa, Farouk Ahmed declined to address journalists as he left the President’s office after less than 30 minutes.
He offered no comment on the allegations against him or the outcome of his discussion with President Tinubu, leaving questions surrounding the controversy unresolved as investigations loom.
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