Tinubu Dismisses NMDPRA CEO Amid Official Trip To Germany

According to Ireporter Online, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has removed Saidu Mohammed from his position as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in a development that unfolded while the official was on duty in Berlin, Germany.

Reports indicate that Mohammed had led a delegation of the agency to the Pipeline Technology Conference held in Berlin from April 27 to April 30, 2026. The agency had earlier confirmed his participation in the international engagement before the sudden leadership change was announced.

Shortly after, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, disclosed that President Tinubu had appointed Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA. He also conveyed the President’s appreciation to Mohammed for his service, while wishing him success in his future endeavours.

The Presidency reiterated its commitment to strengthening leadership across key regulatory institutions, noting that the decision aligns with ongoing reforms aimed at enhancing energy security, improving sector efficiency, and driving sustainable economic growth.

Mohammed’s removal comes months after he withdrew from an appointment to the board of Seplat Energy as an independent non-executive director in December 2025. He was earlier appointed as NMDPRA CEO following the resignation of Farouk Ahmed on December 17, the same day Seplat announced his board nomination.

The development also follows a pattern of recent high-level changes in regulatory agencies, including the removal of Ogbonnaya Orji as Executive Secretary of the Nigeria Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative in November 2025 while he was reportedly on a foreign trip.