President Tinubu Sacks NMDPRA CEO Saidu Mohammed, Appoints Rabiu Umar as Replacement

President Bola Tinubu has removed Saidu Mohammed as CEO of NMDPRA, four months after his appointment, and named Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his successor, pending Senate confirmation.

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), barely four months after his appointment, in a move the Presidency says is in line with national interest and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act, 2021.

The decision was announced on Wednesday in a statement issued by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga.

According to the statement, the termination of Mohammed’s appointment was based on “considerations tied to national interest and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.”

To fill the vacancy, President Tinubu has appointed Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive Officer of the authority, subject to confirmation by the Senate.

Pending the completion of the confirmation process, the Presidency said the most senior official within the NMDPRA would oversee the operations of the agency in an acting capacity.

Rabiu Umar is said to bring extensive experience to the role, having spent over two decades in the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors. His professional career includes leadership roles in key organisations and active participation in major industry projects.

He studied Accounting at Bayero University, Kano, and later attended Harvard Business School for advanced executive education.

The Presidency explained that the leadership change forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the effectiveness of the country’s petroleum regulatory institutions, particularly in the midstream and downstream segments of the oil and gas sector.

The statement also acknowledged the contributions of the outgoing chief executive, Saidu Mohammed, and wished him success in his future endeavours.

President Tinubu reiterated his administration’s commitment to ensuring capable and efficient leadership in strategic institutions critical to the nation’s economic growth and energy sector reforms.

The sudden replacement at the NMDPRA comes amid ongoing reforms in Nigeria’s petroleum industry aimed at improving regulatory efficiency, boosting investor confidence, and enhancing transparency in the sector.