President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), effective immediately.
The decision was announced in a State House press release issued on Wednesday, April 29, 2026, and signed by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President (Information & Strategy).
The President has also approved the nomination of Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
According to the statement, the decision was made pursuant to the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021 and is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector, in line with the President’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, has approved the removal of Mr Saidu Mohammed as the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), in the public interest,” the statement read in part.
Profile of the New NomineeMr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, the President’s nominee, is described as a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
He has a proven track record in strategic leadership, operational transformation, and large-scale project delivery.
Umar holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University, Kano, and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.
Transition ArrangementsPending Senate confirmation of the new nominee, the most senior official of the NMDPRA will oversee operations in an acting capacity.
The President thanked the outgoing Authority Chief Executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.
“President Tinubu remains committed to ensuring capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reform, and sustainable economic growth,” the statement added.
The nomination of Rabiu Abdullahi Umar now heads to the Senate for confirmation, in accordance with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
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