President Bola Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
He has also forwarded the nomination of Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new head of the agency, subject to Senate confirmation.
The development was disclosed in a State House statement issued on Wednesday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.
“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,” Onanuga said.
According to the Presidency, the decision aligns with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and is intended to enhance regulatory efficiency within the midstream and downstream petroleum sector in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
Mr Umar, the nominee, is described as a seasoned professional with more than 25 years of experience spanning energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure.
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He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Pending Senate approval, the most senior official in the NMDPRA will oversee the agency in an acting capacity.
The Presidency also expressed appreciation to the outgoing chief executive for his service and wished him well in his future engagements, reiterating its commitment to appointing capable leadership in key regulatory institutions.
“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.
The leadership change comes after the departure of the agency’s pioneer Chief Executive, Farouk Ahmed, who stepped down in December 2025. He was later succeeded by Saidu Mohammed as Authority Chief Executive of the NMDPRA.