…Accuse Dangote of undermining regulatory independence*
Over 50 Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) on Monday defended the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, dismissing corruption allegations linked to Mr. Aliko Dangote, Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, as unsubstantiated and lacking evidence.
The coalition made its stance known at a joint press conference in Abuja, describing the allegations as an attempt to discredit the NMDPRA’s leadership over its regulatory actions against monopolistic practices in Nigeria’s petroleum sector.
Speaking on behalf of the CSOs, Comrade Ibrahim Bello, Convener of the coalition and National Coordinator of the Centre for Fiscal Transparency and Public Integrity (CFTPI), said internal reviews found no basis for claims of corruption against Ahmed.
“Our findings show that Mr. Farouk Ahmed has not engaged in any corrupt practice. He has been repositioning the downstream sector to promote fairness, competition, and efficiency, ensuring no single entity dominates the industry to the detriment of Nigerians,” Bello stated.
He added that Ahmed’s leadership has adhered to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA), strengthening transparency and encouraging broader investor participation in the sector.
The CSOs also refuted claims attributed to Dangote that Ahmed allegedly paid $5 million as school fees for his children in Switzerland, noting that no verifiable evidence was provided.
According to the coalition, publicising serious allegations without due process poses a threat to regulatory institutions and the nation’s reform agenda.
Prominent members endorsing the position include Hajiya Fatima Sani (Citizens Watch for Good Governance), Barr. Chukwudi Eze (Accountability and Democratic Values Initiative), Dr. Ngozi Okeke (Nigerian Coalition Against Corruption and Waste), Pastor Emmanuel Adebayo (Voice of Conscience Foundation), and several others from leading civil society and regional organisations.
The CSOs argued that the attacks on the NMDPRA stem from its refusal to compromise regulatory standards or allow dominance by any single company in the petroleum downstream sector.
“We believe these allegations are aimed at intimidating the regulator because of its insistence on fairness, competition, and value for Nigerians,” the coalition said.
They urged individuals and corporate entities with grievances to follow due process rather than media trials, called on Nigerians to treat unproven claims with caution, and appealed to the Federal Government to continue supporting the independence of the NMDPRA.
The coalition concluded by reaffirming confidence in Ahmed, describing his leadership as strengthening regulatory credibility, boosting stakeholder confidence, and safeguarding the national interest in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum industry.
