Petrol Price War Escalates as Dangote Accuses NMDPRA Boss
Atume Terfa
Nigeria’s fuel sector has erupted in controversy after billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote publicly accused Farouk Ahmed, the head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), of corruption, intensifying an already heated dispute over petrol pricing and regulatory oversight.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote alleged that Ahmed spent approximately $5 million to fund his four children’s education in Switzerland — a figure the industrialist described as “economic sabotage” given the regulator’s official salary and allowances. Dangote urged anti-corruption agencies and the Code of Conduct Tribunal to investigate, warning that unchecked misconduct erodes public trust in Nigeria’s energy sector.
The accusations reflect growing frustrations from Dangote and other industry players over what they view as regulatory missteps that stifle the de-escalation and clearer regulatory frameworks; such conflicts could threaten investor confidence and complicate efforts to stabilise Nigeria’s downstream sector.
