Tinubu Sacks NMDPRA Chief, Names Successor

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Saidu Mohammed, and put forward Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement, subject to Senate confirmation.

The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in the public interest,” Onanuga said.

According to the Presidency, the decision aligns with provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and is intended to enhance regulatory performance in the midstream and downstream segments of the oil and gas industry, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Umar, the nominee, brings more than 25 years of professional experience spanning the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and has attended the Harvard Business School.

Pending Senate approval, the most senior official within the authority will assume leadership in an acting capacity.

The Presidency also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing chief executive, wishing him well in his future endeavours while reaffirming its commitment to strong leadership across key institutions.

“The President remains committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth,” the statement added.

The latest shake-up follows earlier leadership changes at the agency, including the exit of its pioneer chief executive, Farouk Ahmed, in December 2025. He was succeeded by Mohammed, whose tenure has now come to an end.