Four months after his appointment, President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Saidu Mohammed.
Mohammed’s removal is coming at a time when members of the Airline Operators of Nigeria are threatening to shut down operations over the high cost of aviation fuel.
Similarly, his sack comes amid complaints by the Dangote Petroleum Refinery that the NMDPRA was issuing licences for fuel importation despite claiming that no licence had been issued since the beginning of the year.
In a statement announcing Mohammed’s removal on Wednesday, the Special Adviser to the President on Information & Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said he would be replaced by Rabiu Umar.
“President Bola Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, in the public interest.
“The President has also approved the nomination of Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation,” the statement read partly.
Onanuga explained that the decision, 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.
