UPDATED: Amid Dangote’s allegations, NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed resigns

Engineer Farouk Ahmed has resigned as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), prompting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to nominate a successor and seek Senate approval.

The development was announced in a State House press release on Wednesday, which also confirmed the resignation of Gbenga Komolafe as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).

Following the resignations, President Tinubu has asked the Senate to approve the nominations of Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new CEO of NMDPRA and Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC.

The resignation comes a few days after Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), accused Ahmed of misconduct.

Allegations of misconduct

Dangote, while speaking during a press conference on Sunday where he addressed concerns over fuel supply challenges and the state of petroleum infrastructure in the country, said Farouk was living beyond his means, claiming he spent $5 million on his children’s secondary education in Switzerland.

“I am not calling for his removal, but for a proper investigation,” Dangote said, adding, “He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians.”

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Dangote criticised the NMDPRA under Ahmed’s leadership for undermining local refining by continuing to issue import licences for petroleum products, despite the country’s growing refining capacity.

According to Dangote, these licences have kept Nigeria dependent on fuel imports and discouraged investment in local refining.

He claimed import licences covering roughly 7.5 billion litres of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) had been issued for the first quarter of 2026, even as local refiners struggle to operate profitably.

Dangote’s petition to ICPC

Dangote petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against Ahmed over alleged corruption and financial impropriety.

The petition, dated December 16 and addressed to the ICPC Chairman, Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN), calls for Farouk’s arrest, investigation, and prosecution for allegedly living far beyond his lawful means as a public servant.

According to the petition, Dangote accused the NMDPRA boss of spending a huge amount of money on the education of his four children in different schools in Switzerland over a six-year period, an amount he said could not be justified by Farouk’s earnings in public service.

The petition further alleged that Farouk Ahmed used the instrumentality of the NMDPRA to embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain and private interests, actions which Dangote said contributed to recent public protests and unrest in the downstream petroleum sector.

ICPC’s reaction

Following the petition, the ICPC announced it would investigate the corruption claims against Ahmed. The commission confirmed it received a formal petition from Dangote.

John Odey, the ICPC spokesman, said the commission would thoroughly examine the allegations.

Reacting via a statement, Odey said, “The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) writes to confirm that it received a formal petition today Tuesday 16th December, 2025 from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer.

“The petition is against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The ICPC wishes to state that the petition will be duly investigated.”