According to a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, the removal of Mohammed was in the public interest.
President Bola Tinubu has relieved Saidu Mohammed of his appointment as the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
Tinubu also approved the nomination of Rabiu Umar as the new Chief Executive of the agency.
According to a statement by the presidential spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, the removal of Mohammed was in the public interest.
His removal came less than five months after the Senate confirmed his appointment.
Mohammed was appointed as the NMDPRA chief after a former managing director of the agency, Farouk Ahmed, resigned amid corruption allegations levelled against him by the Chairman of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
But Ahmed reportedly denied the allegations.
The Presidency had described Mohammed as a “seasoned” professional in the oil and gas industry.
According to Onanuga, the appointment of Umar is subject to Senate confirmation.
He added that the decision, made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Umar is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, with a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.
He is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Pending Senate confirmation of the nominee, Onanuga stated that the most senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.
President Tinubu thanked the outgoing Authority Chief Executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
The statement added that the President remains committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth.
