President Bola Tinubu has removed Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, just four months after his appointment.
Mohammed, who assumed office in December 2025 following the exit of his predecessor, Farouk Ahmed, was relieved of his position with presidential approval.
The development was announced in a statement on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who also disclosed that Rabiu Abdullahi Umar has been nominated as the new CEO of the authority.
According to the statement, Umar’s appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
Onanuga explained that the leadership change, made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum 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 read.
He added, “Pending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.”
Umar is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
The presidential aide said Tinubu thanked the outgoing chief executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours, while reaffirming his commitment to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.
On December 17, 2025, the president had asked the Senate to confirm the nominations of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission and Saidu Mohammed for the NMDPRA, following the resignation of Gbenga Komolafe and Farouk Ahmed from their respective positions.
Before his nomination, Umar held senior executive roles within the Dangote Group, including serving as Group Sales and Marketing Director at Dangote Cement Plc, with over two decades of experience in the downstream petroleum and cement manufacturing sectors.
