President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday approved the removal of Saidu Mohammed as head of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum regulator and nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar to replace him, pending Senate confirmation.
The announcement came in a State House press release signed by Bayo Onanuga, who said the change was made in the public interest and in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021. Until the Senate acts, the most senior official at the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority will run the agency in an acting capacity.
Onanuga said the move was intended to strengthen regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector. He also said the president remained committed to capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to support energy security, sector reform and sustainable economic growth.
Umar brings more than 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors, according to the presidency. He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
The personnel change comes after a period of turnover at the NMDPRA. Farouk Ahmed stepped aside as the agency’s pioneer chief executive in December 2025, and Mohammed took over the same month. The latest decision resets the leadership again, but Umar cannot formally take charge unless the Senate confirms him.
The presidency thanked Mohammed for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours. For now, the question is not who has been chosen, but how quickly the Senate moves to settle the agency’s next permanent boss.
