President Bola Tinubu has sacked Saidu Mohammed as the chief executive officer (CEO) of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Mohammed’s removal — approved by Tinubu — comes just four months after he took over from Farouk Ahmed, the authority’s erstwhile CEO, in December 2025.
Announcing the development in a statement on Wednesday, Bayo Onanuga, special adviser to the president on information and strategy, said Tinubu also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new CEO of the authority.
The appointment is said to be subject to confirmation by the senate.
Onanuga said the leadership change, made in pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.
“Mr Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, and a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery,” the statement reads.
“He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
“Pending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.”
The presidential aide said Tinubu thanked the outgoing chief executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
Onanuga said the president expressed his commitment to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.
On December 17, 2025, Tinubu asked the senate to confirm the nominations of Oritsemeyiwa Amanorisewo Eyesan as the CEO of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission (NUPRC) and Mohammed.
The request followed the resignation of Farouk Ahmed as the chief executive of the NMDPRA and Gbenga Komolafe, chief executive of the NUPRC.
In his new role, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar is expected to bring a wealth of private-sector experience, having held top executive positions in the conglomerate of Aliko Dangote, Africa’s wealthiest person.
According to his profile, he joined Dangote Cement Plc (DCP) as group sales and marketing director with over 20 years’ experience in senior and executive functions within the downstream petroleum and cement manufacturing sectors.
In 2016, he became the managing director and CEO of Ashaka Cement Plc, where he reportedly spearheaded the turnaround of the business until his departure in 2019 to join Dangote Industries Ltd as group chief commercial officer (GCOO).
Umar is said to have started his career in Oando Plc, where he held different management roles within the marketing business and “led the Sales and Marketing Transformation plan successfully”.
In 2014, he moved to Lafarge Africa as the energy and power director and subsequently managed strategy and business development portfolio for West Africa.
Umar is also a member of the Institute of Directors.
