Mirian Gom 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Farouk Ahmed resigns as Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, amid corruption allegations raised by Dangote Group Chairman Aliko Dangote.
Presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga announced the development on Wednesday, disclosing that Gbenga Komolafe also exits his role as Chief Executive of the Nigerian Upstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission.
President Bola Tinubu has forwarded the names of two nominees to the Senate, requesting expedited confirmation to fill the vacant positions.
The President nominates Oritsemeyiwa Eyesan as Chief Executive Officer of the NUPRC and Saidu Mohammed as head of the NMDPRA. “The two nominees are seasoned professionals in the oil and gas industry,” Onanuga says.
Ahmed’s resignation comes hours after he visited President Tinubu at the State House in Abuja. The former regulator spends less than 30 minutes at the Villa and declines to speak with journalists. “It’s already late for an interview. Work has closed,” he says before leaving.
While the presidency does not directly link the resignation to the allegations, the sudden leadership changes mark a significant development in Nigeria’s oil and gas regulatory landscape.
Analysts say the swift nominations signal Tinubu’s resolve to stabilise the sector and sustain investor confidence amid heightened scrutiny.
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Oluwatobi Adu 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius 
Koko Maxwella 