Tensions in Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector escalated on Wednesday after Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), disowned a statement circulating in his name, even as the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirmed it has begun processing a petition filed against him by Aliko Dangote.
In a disclaimer, Ahmed said the statement attributed to him in response to recent allegations did not originate from him, stressing that he had refrained from public exchanges despite what he described as false and damaging claims against him and his family.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I categorically state that the statement did not emanate from me,” Ahmed said.
He added that as a regulator in a sensitive sector, he deliberately avoided engaging in media battles, noting that he welcomed the decision to submit the matter to a formal investigative body, which he said would allow the issues to be objectively examined.
The development followed a petition submitted to the ICPC by Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited, through his lawyer, Ogwu Onoja (SAN), on December 16, 2025. Dangote accused Ahmed of corruption, abuse of office and economic sabotage, alleging that the NMDPRA chief spent more than $7m on the education of his four children in Switzerland without any lawful income to justify such expenditure.
The petition also accused Ahmed of colluding with petroleum importers and international traders to frustrate domestic refining by continuing to issue import licences for petroleum products, an action Dangote claimed undermined Nigeria’s energy security.
Confirming receipt of the petition, ICPC spokesperson John Odey said the commission would investigate the allegations in line with its statutory mandate.
“The ICPC confirms that it received a formal petition from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer against the CEO of the NMDPRA. The petition will be duly investigated,” Odey said.
The allegations have triggered widespread reactions. A coalition of lawyers operating under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy and Anti-Corruption described the claims as a malicious media trial, warning against convicting a public officer outside the courts.
The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) also criticised what it termed a smear campaign against the NMDPRA boss, insisting that regulatory agencies must not be pressured or blackmailed to advance private interests.
Industry stakeholders have similarly expressed concern. The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) passed a vote of confidence in Ahmed’s leadership, warning that public attacks on regulators could erode investor confidence and destabilise the downstream sector.
PETROAN called on President Bola Tinubu to intervene to de-escalate the standoff between Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA, cautioning that prolonged disputes over pricing, import licences and regulatory authority could harm market stability.
The controversy highlights the growing friction between the Dangote Refinery and the NMDPRA since the commencement of phased operations at the Lekki facility, with regulatory disagreements now unfolding in the public domain.
As the ICPC moves to examine Dangote’s petition, stakeholders across the sector have urged restraint, adherence to due process and constructive engagement to safeguard confidence in Nigeria’s petroleum industry.
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