President Bola Tinubu has approved the removal of Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
In a statement on Tuesday, Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, said Tinubu also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new CEO of the authority.
The statement did not provide reasons for Mohammed’s removal. Umar’s nomination will be forwarded to the Senate for confirmation in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021.
The NMDPRA, established under the PIA, is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of midstream and downstream petroleum operations in Nigeria, including refining, distribution, and retail of petroleum products.
Mohammed was appointed as pioneer CEO of the NMDPRA in September 2021 following the merger of the former Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR), Petroleum Products Pricing Regulatory Agency (PPPRA), and Petroleum Equalisation Fund (PEF).
Until his nomination, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar’s portfolio and background were not disclosed in the presidential statement. The Presidency said further details on the transition would be communicated in due course.
The development comes as the federal government continues to implement reforms in the oil and gas sector aimed at improving transparency, attracting investment, and stabilizing product supply.
