President Bola Tinubu has sacked Saidu Mohammed as the chief
executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum
Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Mohammed’s removal — approved by Tinubu — comes just four
months after he took over from Farouk Ahmed, the authority’s erstwhile CEO, in
December 2025.
Announcing the development in a statement on Wednesday, Bayo
Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said
Tinubu also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new CEO of the authority.
The appointment is said to be subject to confirmation by the
senate.
Onanuga said the leadership change, made in pursuant to the
Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness
in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.
“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 reads.
“He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and
an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
“Pending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most
senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.”
The presidential aide said Tinubu thanked the outgoing chief
executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Onanuga said the president expressed his commitment to
ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy
security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.
On December 17, 2025, Tinubu asked the senate to confirm the
nominations of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the CEO of the Nigerian
Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Mohammed.
The request followed the resignation of Farouk Ahmed as the
chief executive of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the
NUPRC.
By
TheTimes Nigeria
