President Bola Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, NMDPRA, nominating Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement.
The move is aimed at strengthening oversight in Nigeria’s critical oil and gas value chain.
Announcing the decision on Wednesday, the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the action was taken “in the public interest” and in line with the administration’s reform agenda.
He added that Umar’s nomination, which is subject to Senate confirmation, is intended to “strengthen regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
The decision, anchored on provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, signals a fresh push by the administration to consolidate reforms and improve institutional performance across the petroleum industry.
Pending Senate confirmation, the most senior official within the authority will oversee operations in an acting capacity.
Umar, a seasoned executive, brings over 25 years of cross-sector experience spanning energy, manufacturing and infrastructure.
He is widely regarded for his expertise in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and execution of large-scale projects, qualities seen as critical for driving efficiency and transparency within the regulatory framework.
An accounting graduate of Bayero University Kano and an alumnus of Harvard Business School, Umar is expected to leverage his extensive professional background to reposition the NMDPRA for enhanced service delivery and investor confidence.
President Tinubu, while thanking the outgoing chief executive for his service, wished him well in his future endeavours.
The President reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to appointing competent leadership across key institutions to drive energy security, deepen sector reforms, and support sustainable economic growth.