President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Mr. Saidu Mohammed from his position as Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The President has also nominated Mr. Rabiu Abdullahi Umar to take over as the new Chief Executive of the agency. The appointment, however, is subject to confirmation by the Senate.
The decision, announced in a statement released on Wednesday, April 29, by Presidential spokesman Bayo Onanuga, was said to be taken “in the public interest” under the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
The presidency noted that the change aims to “strengthen regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.”
Mr. Umar was described as a “seasoned executive” with more than 25 years of experience spanning the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
According to the statement, he has a “proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.”
Umar holds a Bachelor’s degree in Accounting from Bayero University, Kano, and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Until the Senate confirms the new nominee, the most senior official at the NMDPRA will oversee the agency’s operations in an acting capacity, the presidency added.
President Tinubu thanked the outgoing Authority Chief Executive for his service and extended well-wishes for his future endeavors.
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“The President remains committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth,” the statement concluded.
Pinnacle Daily reports that Saidu Mohammed’s removal from office comes barely four months after his appointment in December 2025, following the step down of Farouk Ahmed as CEO of the NMDPRA.
Mohammed, who obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, in 1981, has held leadership roles across Nigeria’s oil and gas sector, including serving as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company and the Nigerian Gas Company.
Shortly before his appointment as NMDPRA Chief Executive, Mohammed was appointed an independent non-executive director at Seplat Energy, a position he later dropped to take the job of overseeing the affairs of the downstream regulatory agency.
Victor Ezeja is a passionate journalist, scholar and analyst of socioeconomic issues in Nigeria and Africa. He is skilled in energy reporting, business and economy, and holds a master's degree in Mass Communication. He can be reached via @VICTOREZEJA on X