NMDPRA CEO Resigns After Meeting With Tinubu

Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has resigned.
His resignation followed a meeting with President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja on Wednesday.

Allegations of Corruption and Economic Sabotage

Ahmed was summoned after allegations of corruption and economic sabotage surfaced.
Aliko Dangote, president of Dangote Industries Limited (DIL), accused Ahmed of misusing public funds.
Dangote’s claims appeared in a paid newspaper advert on December 16.
The advert alleged Ahmed spent $5 million of taxpayers’ money on his children’s education in Switzerland.
Dangote also petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) for Ahmed’s arrest.
He accused Ahmed of “living beyond his means” while serving as a public official.

Resignation of NUPRC CEO

Gbenga Komolafe, CEO of the Nigeria Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), also resigned.
This was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information.

Successors Nominated for Senate Approval

Following the resignations, Tinubu nominated new CEOs for both agencies.
Onanuga said the president requested expedited Senate confirmation of the nominees.
Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan is nominated as CEO of NUPRC.
Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed is nominated as CEO of NMDPRA.

Profiles of the Nominees

Eyesan studied economics at the University of Benin.
She spent nearly 33 years with NNPC and its subsidiaries.
She retired as executive vice-president of upstream operations in 2024.
Previously, she served as group general manager of corporate planning and strategy (2019–2023).

Saidu Aliyu Mohammed graduated in 1981 with a Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University.
He was recently appointed independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy.
Mohammed has served as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and Nigerian Gas Company.
He chaired boards of West African Gas Pipeline, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.
He also served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas & Power Directorate.

Key Projects and Contributions

Mohammed led major projects such as the Escravos-Lagos pipeline expansion and the AKK gas pipeline.
He also contributed to the Nigeria LNG train and the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
His experience positions him as a seasoned leader in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector.