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Farouk Ahmed, the former Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), was forced out of office by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, contrary to reports claiming that he resigned on his own, The MeridianSpy has reliably gathered.
Multiple sources told The MeridianSpy that Ahmed’s exit followed strong pressure from powerful individuals within the Presidency, many of whom are said to be loyal to billionaire businessman Aliko Dangote. These sources insisted that Ahmed did not willingly step aside and that his removal was decided before he was informed.
A source inside the Presidential Villa confirmed that Ahmed never met President Tinubu on the day his resignation was announced. Instead, he was summoned to meet senior government officials and security officers. During that meeting, his official identity card was taken from him, and he was handed a prepared resignation letter to sign.
According to the source, this method has been used several times by the Tinubu administration to quietly remove public officials without public drama. By presenting the exit as a resignation, the government was able to reduce backlash and give the affected official a soft landing.
By Wednesday morning, Ahmed had already received information that he had been removed. Staff members at the NMDPRA headquarters in the Central Business District of Abuja said he appeared disturbed, tense, and angry. An employee who spoke anonymously said Ahmed shouted at staff over minor issues and appeared deeply unsettled.
Ahmed was originally appointed by the late President Muhammadu Buhari. He is regarded as a powerful figure in the oil and gas sector, with strong international connections across Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. Despite this status, several staff members described his leadership style as harsh and unfriendly.
Workers at the agency told The MeridianSpy that Ahmed was known for withholding money, even in situations where funds were required for staff welfare, internal operations, or public engagement. Some staff described him as stingy and unwilling to support others financially.
Sources further revealed that loyalists within the agency attempted to launch a last-minute media response to defend Ahmed after corruption allegations surfaced. However, the plan reportedly failed because Ahmed refused to release money to fund the media effort.
Hours before news of his removal became public, armed security personnel were deployed to the NMDPRA headquarters in Abuja. This, according to insiders, was done to prevent any possible protest or resistance from staff loyal to the former chief executive.
Dangote’s Allegations
Ahmed’s removal came shortly after Aliko Dangote publicly accused him of corruption. Dangote alleged that Ahmed sold crude oil import licences to friends, associates, and cronies for personal benefit.
Dangote also accused Ahmed of misusing public funds. He claimed that the former NMDPRA boss spent $5 million (over ₦7.5 billion) on school fees for four of his children who attend a secondary school in Switzerland.
These allegations sparked widespread public attention and intensified pressure on the Presidency to act. Ahmed has not publicly responded to the claims or issued a detailed denial.
New Appointment
Following Ahmed’s forced exit, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu appointed Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The Senate has confirmed the appointment, and Mohammed is expected to resume duties immediately.
Ahmed’s removal has continued to raise concerns about power struggles within government, the influence of private business interests, and the lack of transparency in how senior public officials are removed from office.
