Three NMDPRA Chiefs In Four Months: Inside the Power Struggle Between Dangote, Marketers And Fuel Supply Chains

Changes in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector have followed leadership transitions at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), amid ongoing disputes involving regulators, marketers, and industry stakeholders.

Sources in the oil sector allege that regulatory decisions under successive NMDPRA leaderships have significantly shaped import approvals and fuel supply dynamics in recent months.

Under the tenure of former Chief Executive Officer Farouk Ahmed, the agency faced allegations from Africa’s richest man and Chairman of Dangote Refinery, Aliko Dangote, of granting import approvals to petroleum marketers, a period that also saw public disputes between both parties.

His successor, Saidu Mohammed, who assumed office in January, reportedly adopted a stricter stance, declining to approve import requests from marketers, including for Automotive Gas Oil (diesel) and Aviation Turbine Kerosene (Jet A1), despite repeated appeals.

The decision reportedly led to growing dissatisfaction among marketers, who claimed the restrictions contributed to supply pressures in the downstream sector.

Last week, the Federal Government reportedly summoned aviation depot owners and airline operators over the high cost of aviation fuel, which had risen above N2,000 per litre.

Industry sources said stakeholders attributed the pricing challenges partly to regulatory bottlenecks at the NMDPRA.

Mohammed was subsequently removed from office on Wednesday, April 29, in a move announced by the Presidency.

An oil industry source said: “Let’s keep watching the dynamics between Dangote, marketers, and the government. Is this now Dangote Regulatory Authority?”

Earlier, SaharaReporters reported that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu approved Mohammed’s removal as Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, stating that the decision was taken “in the public interest.”

According to a statement issued by the Presidency and signed by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the decision is part of ongoing reforms in the oil and gas regulatory framework aimed at strengthening institutional performance.

The Presidency also confirmed the nomination of Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, subject to Senate confirmation.

SaharaReporters had earlier reported that Umar previously held a senior executive position with professional ties to the Dangote Group. His appointment comes months after a regulatory dispute involving Dangote and the agency’s former leadership.

In December 2025, Dangote accused Farouk, then-CEO of the NMDPRA, of corruption and economic sabotage, alleging Farouk spent over $5-$7 million on his children’s Swiss education, which exceeded his lawful income.

Dangote demanded an investigation, alleging the regulator acted against Nigeria’s interests.

Later in December, the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed it had received a formal petition from Dangote against Farouk.

In a statement issued on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, ICPC spokesperson John Okor Odey said the petition was submitted earlier that day through Dangote’s lawyer.

While Dangote later withdrew his petition with the ICPC in January 2026 and filed another petition with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), the commission announced that investigation into the matter would continue.

Prior to the ICPC petition, Dangote had publicly launched strong criticisms against Farouk, accusing him of undermining Nigeria’s economy and attempting to frustrate domestic industrial capacity, particularly in the oil and gas downstream sector.

Dangote also alleged that regulatory actions under Farouk were structured in a way that, in his view, discouraged local refining and investment, describing such conduct as detrimental to Nigeria’s economic self-sufficiency ambitions.

However, in the midst of the controversy and the corruption allegations levelled against him, Farouk tendered his resignation on December 17, 2025.

Four months after the episode, President Tinubu has now approved changes at the helm of the regulatory agency.

The President on Wednesday approved the removal of Mohammed, who succeeded Farouk as the Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, stating that the decision was taken “in the public interest.”

President Tinubu also approved the nomination of Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. However, the appointment is subject to confirmation by the Nigerian Senate, in line with statutory requirements.

The Presidency explained that the move was made pursuant to the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, with the broader objective of strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.

Umar’s appointment has drawn attention due to his professional background. Until his nomination, he served as Group Sales and Marketing Director at Dangote Cement, a company owned by Dangote.

A publication on the Dangote Cement website described him as having joined the organisation as Group Sales and Marketing Director with over 20 years’ experience in senior and executive roles within the downstream petroleum and cement manufacturing sectors, with a focus on transformational leadership.

The profile further stated that Umar began his career at Oando Plc, where he rose through various management positions within the marketing division and later led the Sales and Marketing Transformation Plan.(SaharaReporters)