Chairman of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has accused the leadership of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) of actions he described as economic sabotage, calling for an official investigation into the agency’s operations.
Speaking at a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA was colluding with fuel importers and international traders to frustrate domestic refining through the continued issuance of import licences.
He disclosed that import permits covering about 7.5 billion litres of petrol were reportedly issued for the first quarter of 2026 despite sufficient local refining capacity. According to him, such policies are pushing modular refineries to the brink and discouraging new investments.
Dangote alleged that the NMDPRA chief executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, was living beyond his legitimate means, insisting he was not seeking removal but accountability.
“This amounts to economic sabotage. A proper investigation is necessary,” he said, urging the Code of Conduct Bureau or any appropriate agency to act.
He stressed that regulators must be independent of commercial interests, warning that allowing traders to influence regulation undermines the sector.
Despite the controversy, Dangote assured Nigerians that petrol prices would fall further, announcing that MRS filling stations in Lagos would begin selling PMS at not more than ₦740 per litre from Tuesday.
