Engineer Farouk Ahmed and Gbenga Komolafe have resigned as Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC), respectively.
The resignations were confirmed on Wednesday in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
Farouk’s resignation follows corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote. Dangote had petitioned the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC), accusing the former NMDPRA chief of alleged corruption and financial impropriety.
The Presidency did not provide further details on the allegations or the status of any investigation.
Hours before his resignation, Farouk reportedly visited President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. Dressed in traditional attire, the Bauchi-born engineer reportedly spent less than 30 minutes at the Presidential Villa.
The purpose of the visit was not disclosed. Farouk declined to speak with journalists afterwards, saying it was already past official working hours.
Gbenga Komolafe’s resignation as head of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission was also confirmed in the same statement. No specific reason was given for his exit.
Both Farouk and Komolafe were appointed in 2021 by former President Muhammadu Buhari following the establishment of the petroleum regulatory agencies under the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA).
The Presidency noted that steps have been taken to ensure continuity at both agencies, with nominations for new chief executives already forwarded to the Senate for confirmation.
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