By AWC Energy & National Affairs Desk, Abuja
Senator Adams Oshiomhole delivered one of the most dramatic interventions during Thursday’s Senate screening and confirmation hearing for Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominee to lead the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) — following the high-profile resignation of former boss Engr. Farouk Ahmed.
In emphatic and blunt terms before his colleagues at the National Assembly, the senator representing Edo North reiterated that his celebration of Ahmed’s exit was born of deep concern for Nigeria’s petroleum industry and its economic future.
Oshiomhole said that “I had said it in the past that “Farouk Ahmed needed to be hanged before he hangs Nigeria,” referencing his vehement criticism of the former regulator’s policy record and alleged regulatory failures.
Senate Floor: Words That Shocked
Oshiomhole did not shy away from strong language on the Senate floor. “Your predecessor, Mr. Ahmed Farouk … he needed to be hanged,” he declared, noting that if the nation failed to remove him he would “hang Nigeria.” The senator underscored that Ahmed’s tenure was marked by policy choices that—according to critics—favoured importation of petroleum products over support for domestic refining capacity, which he said undermined local industry and job creation.
Addressing the incoming nominee, Oshiomhole said that while Mohammed’s qualification is not in question, policy direction really matters — a pointed reminder that regulatory leadership must prioritise local industrial growth, job creation and economic sovereignty.
He warned that policies permitting excessive fuel importation were tantamount to “importing poverty while exporting Nigeria’s prosperity abroad.”
Backdrop: Regulatory Upheaval in the Oil Sector
The remarks came as Nigeria’s oil and gas sector undergoes a significant leadership shake-up after rising tensions between the former NMDPRA boss and industrial giant Aliko Dangote.
Dangote had publicly accused Farouk Ahmed of economic sabotage by allegedly enabling cheap fuel imports that jeopardised local refining efforts — particularly at the Dangote Refinery, Africa’s largest.
He even petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) over alleged abuses of office and questionable personal expenditures.
While Ahmed dismissed those claims as “wild and spurious,” civil society organisations — including the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA) — have stressed that resignation does not equate to exoneration and urged thorough investigations into the allegations.
What the Senate Is Doing
President Tinubu swiftly moved to stabilise the regulatory framework by nominating Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as NMDPRA chief alongside Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan for the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC).
The Senate’s Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources subjected the nominees to rigorous screening, during which they elaborated plans to leverage the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) to boost investment, enhance product standards and improve sector discipline.
Oshiomhole’s fiery intervention was not only a reflection of political rhetoric but also a stark expression of wider frustrations with regulatory policy direction and its perceived impact on Nigeria’s ambitious energy goals — including local refining, job creation and economic resilience.
Broader Implications
- Policy Scrutiny: The escalating public disputes underscore the urgency for clearer regulatory frameworks that prioritise local production capacity over import dependence.
- Anti-Corruption Push: Calls from groups like the NBA signal a broader demand for accountability in public office, especially within strategic sectors.
- Investor Confidence: Leadership transitions and public controversies carry potential implications for investor sentiment, especially in a sector where regulatory certainty is key.
Oshiomhole’s stark warning — delivered amid procedural proceedings — highlights the high stakes and intense political scrutiny facing Nigeria’s energy policy landscape at a critical juncture for the nation’s economic future.
