Abuja, December 17, 2025 – Engineer Farouk Ahmed has tendered his resignation as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), amid escalating corruption allegations leveled against him by Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote.
The resignation, announced by Presidential Spokesperson Bayo Onanuga on Wednesday evening, comes just hours after Ahmed reportedly held a closed-door meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. Simultaneously, Gbenga Komolafe, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), also stepped down.
President Tinubu has swiftly moved to fill the vacancies, forwarding nominations to the Senate for expedited confirmation. The proposed successors are Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as CEO of NUPRC and Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA. Both nominees are seasoned oil and gas professionals with extensive experience in the sector.
The development follows a high-profile petition submitted by Dangote to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) on December 16. In the petition, filed through his lawyer Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote accused Ahmed of financial impropriety, including allegedly spending over $7 million in public funds on the education of his four children in Swiss schools over a six-year period—expenses Dangote claimed could not be justified by Ahmed’s legitimate income as a lifelong public servant.
Dangote provided specific details, including the children’s names, schools, and payment amounts, to facilitate ICPC verification. He further alleged abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and diversion of public funds, urging the anti-graft agency to arrest, investigate, and prosecute Ahmed.
The ICPC confirmed receipt of the petition and pledged a thorough investigation. Ahmed, prior to his resignation, had described the allegations as “malicious and commercially motivated,” opting for silence to allow due process while expressing confidence in clearing his name.
The feud stems from ongoing tensions between Dangote Refinery and NMDPRA regulatory decisions, including issues around fuel import licenses and product quality standards.
Civil society groups have also weighed in, with protests demanding swift action on the claims. The House of Representatives has summoned both parties, urging restraint from further public comments.
With Ahmed’s exit, attention now shifts to the Senate confirmation process and the ICPC probe, as Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory landscape undergoes a significant shake-up.
BREAKING: NMDPRA Chief Farouk Ahmed Resigns Following Intense Corruption Allegations by Aliko Dangote
