Even My Children Didn’t Attend Such Schools’ — Dangote Demands Probe Into $5 Million Fees Paid By NMDPRA Chief

According to Ireporter Online, President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has called for a full-scale investigation into allegations that the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, paid about $5 million for the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland.

Dangote made the call on Sunday during a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, where he urged relevant authorities to demand a public explanation from the NMDPRA boss. He said the matter, if left unaddressed, could further erode public trust and weaken investor confidence in the country.

The billionaire industrialist stated that the allegations were brought to his attention and insisted that Ahmed should appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to clarify how such an amount was allegedly raised while serving in public office. He described the situation as one that raises serious concerns about accountability and transparency in governance.

Dangote questioned the plausibility of the alleged expenditure, noting that it was difficult to reconcile such school fees with income earned from public service. He added that even private business owners would ordinarily face scrutiny from tax authorities if such payments were made, stressing that income and expenditure must align.

He also expressed concern over the contrast between the alleged spending and the economic hardship faced by many Nigerians, pointing out that families across the country struggle to raise relatively modest school fees, leaving many children out of school. Dangote said this disparity made the allegations particularly troubling.

Emphasising his position, Dangote noted that his own children did not attend foreign secondary schools, explaining that they were educated in Nigeria. He clarified that he was not calling for Ahmed’s removal but rather a transparent investigation to establish the facts and reassure Nigerians that public office had not been abused.

He added that any relevant government agency, including the Code of Conduct Bureau, could investigate the matter, warning that if the allegations were denied, he would pursue legal steps to compel the disclosure of tuition payments allegedly made to the schools involved.

Dangote further criticised the state of the downstream petroleum sector, alleging that entrenched interests continue to benefit from fuel imports at the expense of local refining and national development. He described the continued reliance on imported refined products as unethical and detrimental to Nigeria’s long-term economic growth.