A public quarrel has erupted between Ahmed Farouk, the chief of Nigeria’s Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), and Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, over alleged personal spending and regulatory conduct.
What’s the Issue About?
Dangote has accused Farouk of diverting millions of dollars to fund the overseas education of his four children, claiming this is an example of corruption and economic sabotage.
Who Is Ahmed Farouk?
Farouk is a veteran oil and gas professional with nearly four decades in Nigeria’s petroleum sector. He has held senior roles in NNPC, PPMC, and PPPRA, and now leads NMDPRA, the central body regulating Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum operations under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
Dangote’s Allegations
Dangote says Farouk spent about $5 million on secondary and tertiary education for his children in Switzerland and the US, including a Harvard MBA, while also accusing him of regulatory collusion favoring international traders over local refineries.
Farouk’s Response
The NMDPRA has consistently rejected the claims, calling them politically motivated and baseless. The agency highlights multiple oversight layers, audits, and legal protections that guard Farouk’s tenure and insists the allegations do not reflect reality.