Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, has urged for a comprehensive investigation into claims that Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), spent approximately five million dollars on his children’s secondary school education in Switzerland.
Dangote made this appeal during a media briefing on Sunday at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, where he highlighted what he termed regulatory failures and corruption within the downstream petroleum sector. He insisted that the NMDPRA chief should publicly clarify the source of these funds, warning that failing to do so could be construed as economic sabotage.
According to Dangote, the alleged expenditure seems disproportionate to the income of a public servant and would typically draw the scrutiny of tax and anti-corruption agencies. He emphasised that ignoring this matter could further undermine public trust and investor confidence in the sector.
The businessman expressed his concern over the stark contrast between the purported spending and the economic difficulties faced by many Nigerians who struggle to afford even modest school fees for their children.
He clarified that he was not advocating for the dismissal of the NMDPRA chief, but rather for an independent and transparent investigation by relevant authorities, such as the Code of Conduct Bureau. He stated that if the allegations are denied, he would disclose details of the purported tuition payments and seek legal avenues to compel the involved schools to reveal the information.
Furthermore, Dangote alleged that entrenched interests in the downstream petroleum sector continue to gain from fuel imports to the detriment of local refining and national development. He cautioned that permitting commercial interests to sway regulatory decisions jeopardises the integrity of the sector.
He underscored the necessity for a distinct separation between regulatory oversight and trading activities, noting that, despite several licences being issued, the operating environment remains unfavourable for establishing new refineries.
Dangote assured that Nigerians would ultimately benefit from sustained local refining and confirmed that his refinery is striving to ensure that recent reductions in gantry prices are reflected at petrol stations nationwide.
When approached for a response, NMDPRA spokesperson Mr. George Ene Ita declined to comment, stating that the authority had no statement at the time of reporting.
