Dangote Calls for Probe of NMDPRA Boss, Alleges Economic Sabotage in Downstream Sector

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, has called for an investigation and possible prosecution of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, over alleged economic sabotage and actions undermining domestic refining.

Dangote made the call on Sunday while addressing journalists at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos, accusing the leadership of the downstream regulator of colluding with fuel importers and international traders to frustrate local refining through the continued issuance of import licences for petroleum products.

According to him, the persistent approval of fuel imports, despite Nigeria’s growing domestic refining capacity, is discouraging investment and threatening the survival of local and modular refineries.

“I am not calling for his removal, but for a proper investigation,” Dangote said. “He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians. What is happening amounts to economic sabotage.”

Dangote further alleged that the NMDPRA chief was living beyond his legitimate earnings, claiming that four of Ahmed’s children attend secondary schools in Switzerland at an estimated cost of $5 million.

He said such expenditure raised serious questions about conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau or any other relevant agency should investigate this. If he denies it, I will publish evidence of the tuition payments and take legal steps to compel the schools to disclose the records,” Dangote said.

He contrasted the situation with the reality facing many Nigerians, particularly in Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto, where parents struggle to pay modest school fees.

The Dangote Group chairman assured Nigerians that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) would reduce further, disclosing that petrol would sell at not more than ₦740 per litre from Tuesday, starting in Lagos.

He said the reduction follows a cut in the refinery’s gantry price to ₦699 per litre, adding that MRS filling stations would be the first to reflect the new pricing.

“So if you come to the refinery today, you will get PMS at ₦699 per litre,” he said.

Dangote also announced a reduction in the refinery’s minimum purchase requirement from two million litres to 500,000 litres, enabling more marketers, including members of the Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), to participate.

Dangote expressed concern that Nigeria remains heavily dependent on imported fuel, disclosing that import licences for about 7.5 billion litres of PMS had reportedly been issued for the first quarter of 2026.

He warned that such policy decisions were pushing modular refineries to the brink and discouraging further investment in domestic refining.

“The volume of imports being allowed into the country is unethical and does a disservice to Nigeria,” he said, alleging that powerful interests continue to profit from fuel imports at the expense of national development.

He also criticised what he described as a blurring of lines between regulation and commerce, insisting that traders should not influence regulatory decisions.

“A trader should never be a regulator. Forty-seven licences have been issued, yet no new refineries are being built because the environment is not conducive,” he said.

Dangote maintained that locally refined fuel offers better quality than imported blended products, urging Nigerians to support domestic production.

“Nigerians have a choice to buy better quality fuel at a more affordable price or buy blended PMS at a higher rate,” he said.

He disclosed plans to deploy Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks nationwide to ensure affordable pricing, adding that the company was ready to expand its fleet beyond the initial 4,000 trucks if necessary.

Dangote also revealed plans to list the refinery on the Nigerian Exchange, allowing Nigerians to own shares in the facility, with discussions ongoing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enable share purchases in naira while paying dividends in dollars.

When contacted for a response, the spokesman of the NMDPRA, Mr. George Ene-Ita, declined to comment on the allegations, stating simply: “No comment.”

Source:Arise/thisday