Nigeria petroleum sector enter fresh uncertainty on Wednesday as Chief Executive of NMDPRA, Farouk Ahmed, and CEO of NUPRC, Gbenga Komolafe, both resign from office.
The Presidency announce the resignations, wey many people see as fallout from the ongoing petrol price war and regulatory dispute between Dangote Refinery and the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The shake-up come days after Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Group, publicly accuse Ahmed of economic sabotage and later submit formal petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC).
Dangote Petition Trigger Crisis
On Sunday, Dangote openly question the source of Ahmed wealth, alleging say the regulator spend about $5 million to pay secondary school fees for im four children for Switzerland.
The matter escalate on Tuesday when Dangote officially write ICPC, demand full investigation into the NMDPRA boss.
Sources say Ahmed later get invitation to the Presidential Villa, and shortly after, the Presidency announce im resignation. Though Komolafe no dey directly involved in the immediate fight, Presidency decide make leadership change happen for both regulatory agencies at the same time.
Presidency Name Replacements
Confirming the development, Presidential spokesman Bayi Onanuga say President Bola Tinubu don forward names of new nominees to the Senate for confirmation.
According to am, Tinubu nominate Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as new CEO of NUPRC, and Engr Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA.
Onanuga explain say both outgoing officials were appointed in 2021 under former President Muhammadu Buhari, following the Petroleum Industry Act.
He describe the nominees as experienced professionals in the oil and gas industry.
Marketers Raise Alarm
The sudden resignation don raise fear among petroleum marketers, especially for downstream sector. One senior marketer, wey speak anonymously, say the development don increase tension across the industry.
“The NMDPRA boss go Villa on Wednesday morning and from there e resign. Even though we no support corruption, the only allegation be school fees matter. Issuing fuel import licence no be crime,” the marketer talk.
He warn say the situation no dey send good signal to investors and dealers, especially with Dangote aggressive petrol price cuts.
“Since Dangote reduce petrol gantry price to N699 per litre, over 90 per cent of marketers don stop lifting product from our depots. Many businesses dey face collapse,” he add.
Import Licence Fight
The dispute between Dangote and NMDPRA start over fuel import licences. The regulator justify imports, say petrol supply fall short in September and October.
NMDPRA data show say marketers import about 1.5 billion litres of petrol in November, the highest since Dangote refinery begin petrol production in September 2024.
Dangote react angrily, accuse Ahmed of issuing “reckless licences” while refinery tanks dey full.
“They dey plan issue licence for 7.5 billion litres for first quarter of 2026, even when we guarantee enough supply,” Dangote complain.
He deny monopoly claims, say nobody stop others from building refineries.
Komolafe Also Affected
Though Komolafe no dey directly involved in petrol pricing issue, im resignation link to long-standing dispute between Dangote refinery and NUPRC over Domestic Crude Supply Obligation.
Dangote had earlier accuse oil companies and regulators of frustrating local crude supply, forcing refinery to import crude abroad.
That dispute only calm down after FG order NNPC to sell crude to Dangote in naira — a move wey boost local fuel supply and lead to sharp petrol price reductions nationwide.
With the exit of the two regulators, stakeholders dey watch closely as Nigeria oil sector enter another uncertain phase.
