Tinubu sacks NMDPRA boss, nominates Rabiu Umar as replacement

Goli Innocent 

Lagos — President Bola Tinubu has removed the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, Mr Saidu Mohammed, in a major shake-up of the country’s oil sector regulatory leadership.

He has also nominated Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new head of the agency, subject to Senate confirmation, in what the Presidency says is part of efforts to tighten oversight and improve performance in the downstream petroleum sector.

A statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the decision was taken “in the public interest.”

According to the Presidency, the move is guided by the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021 and is aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency in a sector that remains central to Nigeria’s energy security and revenue stability.

Mr Rabiu Umar, who has now been nominated to take over, is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience spanning energy, manufacturing and infrastructure. He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is also an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

Pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official in the agency will oversee operations in an acting capacity to ensure continuity of regulatory functions across the midstream and downstream oil market.

The Presidency said the change reflects its broader agenda of placing competent leadership in strategic institutions, especially in the oil sector where regulation directly affects fuel supply, pricing stability and investor confidence.

It also thanked the outgoing chief executive, Mr Saidu Mohammed, for his service, noting that his tenure contributed to ongoing reforms within the downstream petroleum space.

The NMDPRA, which regulates petroleum products distribution, storage and pricing frameworks, plays a central role in Nigeria’s fuel supply chain, particularly at a time when the country is grappling with subsidy reforms and shifting market dynamics.

Industry watchers say the leadership change could signal a fresh push to tighten regulatory controls and improve efficiency in a downstream sector still facing pressure from supply gaps, pricing disputes and infrastructure constraints.