By Bassey Udo
Barely four months and 12 days since Engineer Mohammed Saidu was appointed the Authority Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream-Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) by President Bola Tinubu, he was on Wednesday sacked in controversial circumstances.
Saidu succeeded Farouk Ahmed, who resigned from office on December 16, 2025 following allegations of corruption and “economic sabotage” levelled against him by the Chairman of Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote.
Àlthough no reason was given for the sack, a State House statement signed by Presidential Spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, said Saidu was asked to go home “in the public interest.”
“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,” the statement said.
Observers are still waiting the clarification on what constitutes in the public interest in this decision. Itis not clear if the sack had to do with the trip.
The standard practice in the public service is that whenever any senior government official or head of Ministry, Department and Agency plans to travel outside the country for any official assignment, it was mandatory for such official to obtain written clearance and authorization from the Presidency through the Office of Secretary of the Government of the Federation before doing so.
If Mr Saidu complied with that protocol and was duly granted that authority to travel outside the country, close followers of the latest development expressed concern on Wednesday why the decision to sack him did not have to delayed by the President pending his return to the country.
Meanwhile, the Presidency has named Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as Mr Saidunamed, pending approval and confirmation by the Senate.
directed the most senior official of the NMDPRA to oversee the operations of the midstream and downstream regulatory authority in an acting capacity pending Senate’s confirmation of the new nominee.
“The President has also approved the nomination of Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation,” the statement added.
The decision, which Mr Onanuga said was made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, was aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr Umar, who was described as a seasoned executive with over 25 years experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors of the economy, in addition to a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery, was outside the country on official assignment at the time his sackwas announced.
Saidu who was a graduate of Accounting from the Bayero University, Kano was also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
The statement said President Tinubu thanked the outgoing Authority Chief Executive for his service and wishes him well in his future endeavours.
“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.
