President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr. Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), just four months after his appointment.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
According to the statement, the president has nominated Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new chief executive of the NMDPRA, subject to confirmation by the Senate.
It noted that the decision, in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector and aligns with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Umar is described as a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience spanning the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. He is reputed for his expertise in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.
He holds a degree in accounting from Bayero University Kano and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Pending Senate confirmation of his nomination, the most senior official within the NMDPRA will oversee the agency’s operations in an acting capacity.
President Tinubu expressed appreciation to the outgoing chief executive for his service and wished him success in his future endeavors, reiterating his administration’s commitment to ensuring competent leadership in key regulatory institutions to drive energy security, sector reforms, and sustainable economic growth.
