- Safiu Kehinde
President Bola Tinubu has sacked the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Mohammed.
Tinubu relieved the NMDPRA boss Rabiu Abdullahi Umar nominated as his replacement.
This was announced in a statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
While Umar’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation, Onanuga said the decision was made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
He further explained that Umar’s appointment is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
As profiled by Onanuga, 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.
He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Pending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.
Meanwhile, Tinubu expressed his gratitude to the outgoing Authority Chief Executive for his service and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
The president reaffirmed his committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.