President Bola Tinubu has relieved Saidu Ahmed Alkali of his duties as Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), just four months after his appointment.
The decision was announced on Wednesday in a statement released by presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga, who said the move was taken in line with national interest and the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.
According to the statement, President Bola Tinubu has also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive Officer of the agency, pending Senate confirmation.
Until the confirmation process is completed, the most senior official within the authority is expected to oversee the agency’s operations on an interim basis.
Rabiu Umar is described as an experienced professional with over two decades of work experience across the energy, manufacturing, and infrastructure sectors.
He has held leadership roles on major projects and is an alumnus of Bayero University Kano, where he studied Accounting, and Harvard Business School.
The presidency noted that the leadership change is part of ongoing efforts to improve efficiency and regulatory performance in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector.
The statement also acknowledged the outgoing CEO’s service and wished him success in his future endeavors, while reaffirming the administration’s focus on effective leadership across key national institutions.
