Engr Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has denied issuing the statement circulating in the media responding to recent allegations about him.
The NMDPRA issued a statement on its official social media page, clarifying the situation, noting that the so-called statement did not come from Engr Farouk Ahmed.
This comes as controversies over the corruption allegations levelled against the NMPDRA boss by Aliko Dangote continue to escalate.
What he said
Ahmed emphasizing his preference for formal investigation over public debate.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so-called statement did not emanate from me.
“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat.
“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distill the issues and to clear my name,” he said
Backstory
Reports circulating in the early hours of today alleged that NMDPRA Ahmed denied the claims, explaining that the timing and nature of the allegations required context.
The reports stated that he referenced his 30-year career in Nigeria’s petroleum sector, rising from a junior engineer to Chief Executive of the NMDPRA, and maintained that his decisions have prioritised regulatory integrity over personal or commercial interests.
The reports further claimed that three of his four children received merit-based scholarships alongside family support, and that his official income and savings were sufficient to cover education costs. They also claimed he linked the allegations to NMDPRA’s recent enforcement of stricter licensing, quality standards, and transparent pricing, and invited regulatory and investigative agencies to examine his finances in the interest of transparency.
What you should know
Aliko Dangote has raised a series of allegations against NMDPRA CEO Engr Farouk Ahmed, accusing him of corruption and economic sabotage. Dangote claimed that Ahmed spent $5 million on his children’s overseas education, criticised the issuance of import licences despite sufficient local refining capacity, and alleged that NMDPRA’s reports misrepresent production at its Lekki refinery.
The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) urged Nigeria’s anti-corruption agencies, including the ICPC, EFCC, and Code of Conduct Bureau, to urgently investigate the allegations, question Ahmed, identify those responsible, recover any illicit funds, and improve transparency and accountability in the oil and gas sector.
The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources has intervened, summoning both Dangote Refinery and NMDPRA, and ordered a halt to media exchanges while it investigates the claims. In addition, Dangote has filed a formal petition with the ICPC against Ahmed, intensifying the scrutiny of the regulator’s actions and the broader operations of NMDPRA.
