Farouk Ahmed has resigned as the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) amid corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
The development was disclosed on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who also announced that Gbenga Komolafe has stepped down as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
According to Onanuga, President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of two nominees to the Senate for confirmation as replacements.
The President requested the expedited confirmation of Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Saidu Mohammed as Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA.
“The two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry,” the statement said.
Hours before his resignation, Ahmed visited President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. Dressed in traditional attire, the Bauchi-born former regulator spent less than 30 minutes at the Presidential Villa before departing.
He declined to speak with journalists, saying, “It’s already late for an interview. It’s past 5 p.m. Work has closed.” The purpose of the visit was not disclosed.
Dangote’s allegations
Ahmed’s resignation followed a public dispute with Dangote, who petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the former NMDPRA boss of corruption and financial impropriety.
In the petition, submitted through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja, Dangote urged the anti-graft agency to arrest, investigate and prosecute Ahmed, alleging that he lived far beyond his legitimate means as a public servant.
Africa’s richest man claimed that four of Ahmed’s children attended secondary schools in Switzerland at costs running into several million dollars. He alleged that about $5 million was spent on their secondary education and upkeep over six years, with an additional $2 million on tertiary education, including an alleged $210,000 for a 2025 Harvard MBA programme for one of the children.
Dangote listed the names of the children and the schools they allegedly attended, urging the ICPC to act in line with the law.
“We have no reservation that, being a matter in the public domain, the Commission will not close its eyes to it but will act decisively to ensure justice is done and the good image of the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is protected,” the petition stated.
The ICPC has acknowledged receipt of the petition and said it will be duly investigated.
Earlier, Dangote accused the NMDPRA leadership under Ahmed of economic sabotage, alleging that certain regulatory actions were undermining local refining capacity.
At a press conference at the Dangote Refinery in Lagos, he said the continued issuance of import licences for petroleum products was frustrating domestic refiners and perpetuating Nigeria’s reliance on imports. He further alleged collusion between the regulator and international traders to the detriment of local operators.
Ahmed’s response
In a brief statement before his resignation, Ahmed dismissed Dangote’s allegations as “wild and spurious.”
“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy they have generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbats,” he said.
“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken the matter to a formal investigative institution. I believe that will provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and clear my name.”
Long-running dispute
The dispute between Dangote and Ahmed dates back to 2024, when the NMDPRA accused local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, of producing inferior petroleum products compared to imports.
Ahmed also accused Dangote of seeking to monopolise Nigeria’s energy supply, an allegation the refiner denied. At the time, the regulator said the refinery was still in its pre-commissioning stage and lacked an operational licence.
The House of Representatives intervened in the dispute, calling for a probe and at one point demanding Ahmed’s suspension.
