President Bola Tinubu has removed Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority and nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar to replace him, in a leadership change the presidency said was made in the public interest.
The nomination is subject to Senate confirmation. Until lawmakers act, the most senior NMDPRA official will run the regulator in an acting capacity. The announcement came on Wednesday and was presented as part of an effort to strengthen regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.
Bayo Onanuga said Umar is a seasoned executive with more than 25 years of experience across energy, manufacturing and infrastructure, with a record in strategic leadership, operational transformation and large-scale project delivery. He added that Umar is a graduate of accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Umar’s background spans some of Nigeria’s biggest industrial names. He started his career at Oando Plc, moved to Lafarge Africa in 2014 as energy and power director, joined Dangote Cement Plc as group sales and marketing director, became managing director and chief executive of Ashaka Cement Plc in 2016, and left that role in 2019 to join Dangote Industries Ltd as group chief commercial officer. He is also a member of the Institute of Directors.
The change follows a period of churn at the top of the regulator. Farouk Ahmed, the authority’s pioneer chief executive, stepped aside in December 2025. Mohammed took over that same month and was removed about four months later. The presidency thanked him for his service and wished him success in his future endeavours.
The leadership shift is tied to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and lands at a moment when the administration is pressing for tighter oversight of the sector that governs Nigeria’s fuel supply chain. Tinubu, Onanuga said, remains committed to capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform and sustainable economic growth. The Senate now has the last word on whether Umar takes charge.
