The Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, has rejected allegations of corruption and illicit enrichment leveled against him, describing the claims as misleading and taken out of context. He has also formally invited relevant authorities to conduct a full probe into his finances and tenure.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, Ahmed said the allegations—particularly those concerning the funding of his children’s education abroad—required clarification, not because he feared scrutiny, but because his decades-long public service provided necessary context.
Tracing his career in Nigeria’s petroleum sector to 1991, Ahmed said his rise through the ranks was based on merit rather than political patronage. He explained that his professional experience cuts across technical operations, crude oil marketing, gas supply monitoring, and downstream regulation, noting that his decisions have consistently been guided by national interest.
Ahmed recounted his progression to General Manager of the Crude Oil Marketing Division in 2012, his appointment as Deputy Director in 2015, and his eventual emergence as NMDPRA chief executive in 2021. He acknowledged that implementing reforms under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) has been challenging, particularly in a sector long characterised by opacity.
Responding to claims that he spent millions of dollars on his children’s education in Switzerland, Ahmed said the figures being circulated were inaccurate. According to him, three of his four children received merit-based scholarships covering between 40 and 65 per cent of tuition costs, while additional support came from his late father and personal savings accumulated over more than three decades of service.
He added that his annual remuneration of about ₦48 million, including allowances, is publicly documented, and that he has consistently submitted asset declarations to the Code of Conduct Bureau throughout his career.
Ahmed suggested that the timing of the allegations was linked to recent regulatory actions by the NMDPRA, including stricter enforcement of quality standards, tougher licensing requirements, and transparent pricing mechanisms. He insisted that the authority’s decisions on fuel import licences are in line with Section 7 of the PIA, which mandates supply security and the prevention of scarcity.
“Granting import licences when domestic supply is insufficient is not sabotage; it is a legal obligation,” he said.
The NMDPRA boss called on the Code of Conduct Bureau to review all his asset declarations since 1991, urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission to examine his financial transactions, and invited the National Assembly to exercise its oversight functions. He pledged full cooperation with any investigation.
Meanwhile, the allegations stem from a petition by Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC). Dangote accused Ahmed of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment, and living beyond his legitimate earnings, alleging that the NMDPRA chief spent over $7 million on his children’s education abroad.
Dangote also claimed that Ahmed used his position to frustrate local refining by issuing fuel import licences and called for his arrest and prosecution. He said he was prepared to present evidence to investigators to substantiate his claims.
Ahmed, however, maintained that his record, both professional and financial, would withstand any credible inquiry, reaffirming his commitment to transparency, regulatory independence, and public accountability.
