President Bola Tinubu has approved the removal of the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr Saidu Mohammed, citing public interest, and nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement.

The nomination of Umar is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

The Presidency, in a statement issued by Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, Wednesday, said the decision was taken in line with ongoing efforts to strengthen regulatory effectiveness in Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector, a critical segment of the country’s energy value chain.

It added that the move was pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, which provides the legal framework for the governance and administration of the petroleum industry.

Pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official of the Authority will oversee operations in an acting capacity.

The NMDPRA, established under the Petroleum Industry Act, is responsible for the technical and commercial regulation of Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations, including gas processing, transportation, fuel distribution and retail.

The leadership change is seen as part of a broader reset aimed at improving efficiency, deepening transparency and boosting investor confidence in the oil and gas sector.

Profile of the Nominee
Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

According to the Presidency, he has a proven record in strategic leadership, operational transformation and large-scale project delivery.

He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University Kano and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

President Tinubu thanked the outgoing Chief Executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to ensuring competent leadership across key regulatory institutions to drive energy security, sector reforms and sustainable economic growth.