President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement.
This was disclosed on Wednesday, April 29, by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, in a statement.
Umar’s appointment, which is subject to Senate confirmation, comes with over 25 years of experience spanning the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
What they are saying
The Presidency said the leadership change was made in line with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 to strengthen oversight in the sector and improve regulatory performance.
According to the statement, Umar brings extensive leadership experience and a strong record in driving operational and strategic transformation across industries.
- “Mr Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, and a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery,” the statement read in part.
The Presidency also noted that Umar holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and has attended Harvard Business School.
It added that pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official within the NMDPRA will oversee the agency’s operations in an acting capacity.
More insights
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) is responsible for regulating operations in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream oil and gas sector, including petroleum processing, distribution, and marketing.
Mohammed’s removal comes just four months after he assumed office, following the exit of his predecessor, Farouk Ahmed.
Ahmed, who was appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari, stepped down ahead of the end of his tenure, paving the way for Mohammed’s appointment before his recent removal by President Tinubu.
What you should know
Rabiu Abdullahi Umar has built a career spanning finance, energy, and industrial operations, with experience across both public and private sectors.
- He previously served as Managing Director of Ashaka Cement, where he led the company’s operations after rising through senior strategic roles.
- Before that, he held a key leadership position at Lafarge, overseeing energy and power initiatives, including projects aimed at boosting electricity supply to the national grid.
- Umar also spent over a decade at Oando, working across finance, marketing, and operations, and eventually rising to oversee terminal and logistics operations within the company.
His combined experience across energy infrastructure, corporate strategy, and operations positions him for leadership within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory space, pending Senate confirmation.
