Following Aliko Dangote's petition to the ICPC alleging corruption against NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed—which prompted an immediate investigation—the CEO has resigned. NUPRC CEO Gbenga Komolafe also stepped down, as President Bola Tinubu nominates new leadership for Nigeria's key petroleum regulators.
Engineer Farouk Ahmed resigned as CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) on December 17, 2025, per Daily Trust reports. This follows corruption allegations from Aliko Dangote, founder of Dangote Group, who petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) on or before December 16. The ICPC confirmed it would investigate the claims targeting NMDPRA leadership amid petroleum sector tensions.
Concurrently, Gbenga Komolafe resigned as CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC). President Bola Tinubu has nominated replacements, indicating a restructuring of oil and gas oversight bodies.
These events spotlight governance challenges, regulatory-private sector conflicts, and calls for transparency in Nigeria's energy industry. No detailed official responses from involved parties have emerged, as stakeholders monitor the ICPC probe and its policy implications.
