By AWC Energy Desk, Abuja
In a dramatic development that continues to send ripples through Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has officially resigned from his position, ending a period of intense public scrutiny and controversy immediately following high-profile allegations by billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote.
His counterpart at the upstream regulator, Engr. Gbenga Komolafe of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), also tendered his resignation amid the shake-up.
Is the Resignation Linked to Dangote’s Allegations?
While the Presidency did not explicitly link Farouk Ahmed’s exit to the public spat with Dangote, the timing has inevitably fueled speculation that pressure from the dispute played a decisive role.
Dangote had publicly accused Ahmed of corruption and abuse of office — including allegations that the regulator’s chief used excessive funds for personal family needs and undermined local refining efforts — and formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate.
Ahmed, however, had dismissed the allegations as “wild and spurious”, insisting he would allow investigative bodies to address the matter rather than engage in public disputes.
The Dangote-related controversy has spotlighted broader tensions in the sector — particularly regulatory decisions affecting import licences, domestic refining capacities and how governance decisions may favour either foreign interests or local industrial expansion.
While Dangote’s refinery — the largest in Africa — has been central to energy policy debates, critics have argued that regulatory bottlenecks and policy incoherence exacerbated import dependence and stunted growth of domestic refining.
Presidential Action: New Leadership in View
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu swiftly accepted the resignations and moved to nominate successors for both regulatory agencies, forwarding their names to the Senate for confirmation:
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed has been nominated as the new CEO of the NMDPRA. A veteran of the oil and gas sector, Mohammed’s resume includes leadership roles at the Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company, as well as strategic positions in national gas infrastructure projects.
Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan has been proposed as the new CEO of the NUPRC. With nearly three decades at the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPC) and roles such as Executive Vice President (Upstream) and Group General Manager of Corporate Planning and Strategy, Eyesan is viewed as a seasoned professional well-versed in the upstream regulatory landscape.
The nominations reflect President Tinubu’s intent to quickly stabilise leadership of the regulatory architecture established under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), which remains central to energy sector governance and investor confidence.
Broader Sector Implications
The leadership transition in NMDPRA and NUPRC comes at a sensitive moment for Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, which is grappling with:
Regulatory credibility concerns
Market dynamics affecting local refining vs. fuel importation
Investor sentiment tied to governance transparency
Economic pressures linked to energy prices and fiscal revenue
Stakeholders will be watching closely whether the new appointees can navigate these challenges while balancing domestic production incentives and regulatory oversight.
The Senate confirmation process will also serve as a barometer of political support for the president’s choices and the broader reform trajectory.
Farouk Ahmed’s resignation marks a pivotal chapter in Nigeria’s energy sector narrative — one where industrial influence, regulatory authority and national economic interests intersect.
While the direct cause remains officially unlinked to the public accusations, the controversy has undeniably refocused attention on governance and accountability in a sector that remains the backbone of the national economy.
As the Senate prepares to consider the nominations of Saidu Aliyu Mohammed and Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan, the industry awaits whether this leadership reshuffle will restore confidence, bring clearer policy direction, and bridge divides that have long challenged Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory framework.
