A group known as the Young Professionals Forum of Nigeria staged a protest at the headquarters of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja on Monday, calling for the immediate suspension of its Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Farouk Ahmed.
Led by the group’s coordinator, Felicia E. Daniels, the protesters accused Ahmed of involvement in a massive financial scandal, abuse of office, and regulatory failure. The group claims he diverted over \$5 million of public funds to sponsor the education of his four children in some of the most expensive schools in Switzerland and India.
According to Daniels, schools attended by Ahmed’s children — including Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and European University Montreux — charge between \$80,000 and \$140,000 per year. The group alleged that the funds were moved through proxy accounts and never declared in Ahmed’s asset disclosures.
The protesters also raised concerns over a possible conflict of interest, claiming that Ahmed’s son, Faisal, was employed by Oando PLC, a company under the direct regulation of NMDPRA. “This is not just unethical — it is unacceptable and raises serious questions about regulatory compromise,” Daniels said.
Furthermore, the group accused the NMDPRA, under Ahmed’s leadership, of approving the importation of diesel with sulphur levels 40 times higher than the recommended international standard, posing health risks to Nigerians. They said no sanctions were issued to fuel importers involved.
The forum described Ahmed’s continued stay in office as a threat to reforms in the petroleum sector and urged him to step aside to allow for a full investigation.
As of the time of this report, the NMDPRA has not issued an official response to the allegations. The group, however, insisted that if Ahmed does not resign, the Nigerian public must continue to demand accountability and transparency.
The NMDPRA was established under the Petroleum Industry Act to regulate Nigeria’s midstream and downstream oil sector. The agency plays a key role in ensuring transparency and enforcing safety and environmental standards in fuel distribution.
