Tinubu Sacks Saidu Mohammed As NMDPRA CEO, Nominates Rabiu Umar As Successor

President Bola Tinubu has sacked Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), just months after his appointment.

The decision comes about four months after Mohammed took over the role following the resignation of his predecessor, Farouk Ahmed, in December 2025.

The change was announced on Tuesday in a statement issued by Bayo Onanuga,  the president’s special adviser on information and strategy.

According to the statement, Tinubu has also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new head of the agency, pending approval from the Senate.

Onanuga explained that the reshuffle is in line with the Petroleum Industry Act of 2021 and is intended to improve how the regulatory body operates within Nigeria’s oil and gas 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 president also thanked the outgoing CEO for his service and wished him well in future roles, stressing that the administration remains focused on appointing capable leaders to strengthen the energy sector and support economic growth.

KanyiDaily recalls that Farouk Ahmed resigned as the NMDPRA following corruption allegations made against him by Aliko Dangote, Chairman of the Dangote Group.