In a significant development within Nigeria's energy sector, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has moved swiftly to fill a key regulatory vacancy following the resignation of Engineer Farouk Ahmed as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Leadership Reshuffle in Petroleum Regulatory Bodies
The resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, alongside Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), was confirmed in a statement issued by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on the evening of Wednesday, December 17, 2025. Both officials were originally appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari to lead the agencies established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
President Tinubu has formally written to the Nigerian Senate, requesting the expedited confirmation of two seasoned professionals to take over the helm. To lead the NMDPRA, the President has nominated Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, a Gombe-born expert with extensive experience in the oil and gas industry.
Profiles of the New Nominees
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, born in 1957, is a chemical engineering graduate of Ahmadu Bello University. His impressive career includes serving as Managing Director of the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company. He has also held board leadership roles at the West African Gas Pipeline Company and Nigeria LNG subsidiaries. His strategic contributions were pivotal in major national projects like the Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano (AKK) Gas Pipeline and the development of the Gas Masterplan.
For the NUPRC, the nominee is Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan, a veteran with nearly 33 years at the NNPC and its subsidiaries, retiring as Executive Vice President, Upstream.
The Allegations that Preceded the Resignation
The resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed comes after very public allegations made by Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote. The billionaire owner of the Dangote Petroleum Refinery had accused the NMDPRA leadership of economic sabotage, claiming they were undermining domestic refining by continuing to issue licenses for fuel imports.
In a press conference at his refinery on Sunday, December 14, Dangote made specific claims about Ahmed's lifestyle, alleging that the former regulator paid approximately five million dollars in secondary school tuition fees for his children at institutions in Switzerland. Dangote framed these expenditures as being beyond Ahmed's legitimate means.
These allegations, which have circulated widely online, created a major controversy around the NMDPRA's leadership and its role in fostering or hindering Nigeria's local refining capacity.
Presidential Action and Next Steps
President Tinubu's immediate submission of replacement nominees to the Senate underscores the administration's intent to maintain stability and professional oversight in the critical petroleum sector. The presidency described both nominees as "seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry."
The ball is now in the court of the Senate to consider and confirm these appointments. This swift action aims to ensure regulatory continuity and address the concerns raised about governance and transparency in the sector. The move is being closely watched by industry stakeholders as a test of the government's response to allegations of impropriety and its commitment to the PIA's implementation framework.
