By Newspot Nigeria News Desk
Abuja, Nigeria | Farouk Ahmed has resigned as the Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) amid corruption allegations levelled against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
The resignation was confirmed on Wednesday by the Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, in an official statement, marking a significant development in the escalating dispute between Nigeria’s petroleum regulator and the country’s largest private refinery operator.
Dangote had recently accused Ahmed of financial impropriety and formally petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), urging the anti-graft agency to investigate alleged unexplained wealth and regulatory misconduct. The ICPC has since confirmed receipt of the petition and announced that it would commence an investigation.
The allegations, which Ahmed has consistently denied, include claims that certain expenditures attributed to him could not be justified by his official income as a public servant. Ahmed has described the accusations as “wild and spurious” and previously stated that he welcomed an ICPC probe to clear his name.
The controversy unfolded against the backdrop of broader tensions within Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, particularly disputes over fuel imports, domestic refining, pricing policies, and the regulatory framework governing the downstream petroleum market.
Ahmed’s resignation comes amid growing public pressure from civil society groups, labour leaders, and industry stakeholders who had called for him to step aside to allow for an unhindered investigation.
As of the time of filing this report, no interim replacement has been officially announced, and the Presidency has not disclosed whether further administrative or legal actions will follow pending the outcome of the ICPC investigation.
More details are expected as the situation develops.
