President Bola Tinubu has approved the removal of Sa’idu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, barely four months after his appointment.
Mohammed, who assumed office in December 2025 following the exit of Farouk Ahmed, was relieved of his duties as part of a leadership restructuring aimed at strengthening regulatory efficiency in the petroleum sector.
The development was announced in a statement on Wednesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy.
According to the statement, President Tinubu has nominated Rabi’u Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive Officer of the authority, subject to confirmation by the Senate. Pending confirmation, the most senior official within the agency will oversee operations in an acting capacity.
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Onanuga said the leadership change, carried out in line with the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, is intended to enhance regulatory effectiveness across Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations.
He described Umar as a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience spanning the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors, with a track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.
Umar is a graduate of Accounting from Bayero University and an alumnus of Harvard Business School. He previously held key executive roles within the Dangote Group, including Group Chief Commercial Officer at Dangote Industries Limited and Managing Director of Ashaka Cement Plc, where he led significant business reforms.
His professional career also includes senior roles at Oando Plc and Lafarge Africa, where he contributed to strategic development and operational growth across the West African region.
President Tinubu expressed appreciation to the outgoing CEO for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours. He reiterated his administration’s commitment to appointing capable leadership in critical institutions to drive energy security, sector reforms, and sustainable economic growth.
The appointment of Umar is expected to strengthen ongoing reforms within the petroleum sector as the government continues efforts to improve efficiency and performance in regulatory agencies.