President Bola Tinubu has dismissed Mr. Saidu Mohammed from his position as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
This development was contained in a statement by his spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, who noted that the removal was “in the public interest.”
In a move to fill the vacancy, the President has nominated Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new head of the agency, pending Senate confirmation.
Mr. Umar is a highly experienced executive with more than 25 years in the energy, infrastructure, and manufacturing sectors.
He is an alumnus of Harvard Business School and holds an accounting degree from Bayero University.
The decision, which the statement said was made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is “aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
While the Senate considers the nomination, the most senior official at the NMDPRA will lead the organization in an acting capacity.
President Tinubu thanked the departing Chief Executive for his contributions and, according to the statement, “remains committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.”
