President Bola Tinubu is facing mounting pressure to take decisive action against the head of a key petroleum regulatory agency following serious corruption allegations linked to Africa's richest man, Aliko Dangote.
Frank's Urgent Call for Suspension and Probe
In a strongly-worded statement issued on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, prominent political activist Timi Frank demanded the immediate suspension of Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). Frank, a former deputy national publicity secretary of the All Progressives Congress (APC), urged President Tinubu to order a comprehensive and transparent investigation into the claims.
The call for action stems from an allegation, publicly highlighted by business magnate Aliko Dangote, that approximately five million dollars was spent from public funds on the secondary school education of the NMDPRA chief's children in Switzerland. Frank described this accusation as too grave to overlook, stating it raises fundamental questions about integrity within a sensitive institution overseeing the nation's critical oil and gas sector.
Weight of the Allegation and Public Trust
Frank emphasized the credibility lent to the claim by its source. "Coming from Aliko Dangote, the richest man in Africa and a globally respected businessman, this allegation cannot be dismissed. It is weighty and should be treated with the seriousness it deserves," he asserted. He warned that silence or inaction from the presidency would be unacceptable and risked eroding public trust and damaging investor confidence in Nigeria's economy.
The activist framed the issue against the backdrop of severe economic hardship faced by ordinary Nigerians. "Nigerians are hungry and struggling to survive, yet we are confronted with allegations of obscene luxury by public officials," Frank stated, arguing that such claims, if proven, would deepen public frustration and undermine faith in government institutions.
Appeal to Anti-Graft Agencies and Praise for Dangote
Beyond presidential action, Timi Frank directly appealed to the nation's primary anti-corruption bodies—the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC)—to independently launch probes into the matter. He insisted that no public official should be shielded from scrutiny, regardless of their office.
Frank reserved significant praise for Aliko Dangote's decision to speak out, calling it a courageous act of service to the nation. "He had no obligation to raise this issue, but he chose to stand with ordinary Nigerians. This is commendable and should encourage others to speak up against corruption," he said. He noted Dangote's reported willingness to cooperate with investigators and urged authorities to leverage this openness.
Frank concluded by insisting on accountability, suggesting that if Ahmed is innocent, he should voluntarily step aside to allow for an unfettered investigation to clear his name. "This issue must not be swept under the carpet. Accountability must prevail. Nigeria cannot afford silence or delay in the face of allegations of this magnitude," he declared.
The allegations emerge against a recent backdrop where Aliko Dangote has repeatedly warned about entrenched sabotage and mafia-like operations within Nigeria's oil and gas industry, highlighting the challenges facing local refining efforts like his massive Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos.
