THE controversy surrounding the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) intensified on Wednesday as the Dangote Group issued a fresh statement alleging that the agency’s Chief Executive Officer, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, is facing mounting scrutiny over plans to approve the payment of more than ₦200 billion in outstanding bridging claims to oil marketers.
In a press statement sent to News Point Nigeria, the Dangote Group said industry sources expressed deep concern over the proposed settlement of what were described as “legacy” bridging claims spanning 2023, 2024 and 2025, warning that the move could expose serious gaps in transparency and data integrity within the downstream petroleum sector.
Bridging claims are government reimbursements paid to petroleum marketers to cover the cost of transporting fuel from coastal depots to inland locations, a mechanism designed to ensure uniform pump prices across the country. However, analysts cited in the statement argued that the policy has rarely translated into real benefits for consumers, as fuel prices often vary widely across regions.
According to the Dangote Group, economists and industry experts have raised red flags over the absence of verifiable data to substantiate a significant portion of the claims earmarked for payment.
“In several instances, marketers submit bridging claims that do not correspond with the levies paid per litre, with discrepancies of up to 47 per cent,” the statement quoted a senior industry source as saying.
The source further alleged that the move to settle as much as ₦250 billion in accumulated claims, despite the regulator’s alleged inability to provide empirical data validating nearly half of the claims against verified levies paid by depot owners and importers, suggested “irregular and potentially sinister practices.”
“It is therefore imperative for the Auditor-General of the Federation to immediately halt the processing of all bridging claims until a comprehensive investigation and forensic audit are conducted to ensure that claims approved by the regulator accurately align with levies paid per litre,” the source added.
The latest development comes amid an ongoing corruption petition filed by the President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) against the NMDPRA boss.
The ICPC has confirmed receipt of the petition and announced that investigations have commenced.
In the petition dated Tuesday and submitted through his lawyer, Chief Ogwu Onoja (SAN), Dangote accused Ahmed of abuse of office, corrupt enrichment and unlawful diversion of public funds, urging the anti-graft agency to investigate, arrest and prosecute the regulator if a prima facie case is established.
According to the petition, Ahmed allegedly spent more than $7 million on the education of his four children in Switzerland, purportedly paying upfront for six years, without any lawful source of income to justify such expenditure.
“That Engr. Farouk Ahmed has grossly abused his office contrary to the extant provisions of the Code of Conduct for Public Officers and, in doing so, enmeshed himself in monumental corruption and unlawful spending of public funds running into millions of dollars,” the petition stated.
It further alleged that Ahmed spent “humongous sums of over $7 million” on his children’s education abroad without evidence of legitimate income to support such spending.
Dangote reportedly provided the ICPC with the names of the children, the Swiss schools they attended, and the specific amounts allegedly paid, to enable independent verification of the claims.
The billionaire industrialist also accused the NMDPRA chief of using the authority of his office to allegedly embezzle and divert public funds for personal gain, actions he said have triggered public outrage and protests by concerned groups.
According to Dangote, Ahmed has spent his entire adult working life in public service and could not, based on legitimate earnings, have accumulated funds close to the amounts allegedly expended on foreign education.
“It is without doubt that the above facts in relation to abuse of office, breach of the Code of Conduct for public officers, corrupt enrichment and embezzlement are gross acts of corrupt practices for which your Commission is statutorily empowered under Section 19 of the ICPC Act to investigate and prosecute,” Dangote stated.
He added that the alleged offences, if proven, attract a prison sentence of up to five years without an option of fine.
Dangote expressed confidence in the ICPC and other anti-corruption agencies to carry out a thorough investigation, stressing that decisive action would help protect public confidence and the integrity of President Bola Tinubu’s administration. He also pledged to provide documentary evidence to support his allegations.
Confirming receipt of the petition, the ICPC spokesperson, Mr John Okor Odey, said the Commission had formally acknowledged the complaint and commenced preliminary investigation.
“The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) confirms that it received a formal petition on Tuesday, December 16, 2025, from Alhaji Aliko Dangote through his lawyer against the CEO of the NMDPRA, Alhaji Farouk Ahmed. The petition will be duly investigated,” Odey said.
In response, Ahmed has dismissed the allegations as “wild and spurious,” stating that he would rather respond before a constituted investigative body than engage in public exchanges.
In a disclaimer personally signed by him, the NMDPRA chief denied authorising any public response circulating on social media and reiterated his confidence in due process.
“While I am aware of the wild and spurious allegations made against me and my family and the frenzy it has generated, as a regulator of a sensitive industry, I have opted not to engage in public brickbat.
“Thankfully, the person behind the allegations has taken it to a formal investigative institution. I believe that would provide an opportunity to dispassionately distil the issues and to clear my name,” Ahmed stated.