Embattled Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Ahmed Farouk, has said he will not engage in a public war of words with billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote, insisting he would rather defend himself before a formal investigative body.
The dispute flared anew on Sunday when Dangote accused Farouk of economic sabotage, alleging that regulatory actions under his watch were undermining domestic refining.
Dangote further claimed Farouk was living beyond his legitimate means, pointing to the alleged multi-million-dollar education of his four children in Swiss schools as evidence of corruption and conflict of interest.
The feud dates back to July 2024, when Farouk declared that local refineries, including the Dangote Refinery, produced inferior products compared to imports.
Dangote countered by showing diesel samples from his plant during a legislative oversight visit, dismissing the claims as unfounded.
Allegations, Denials, and Accountability Questions
In a disclaimer issued Tuesday, Farouk described the corruption allegations against him and his family as “wild and spurious.” He distanced himself from a purported response circulating online, stressing that it did not emanate from him.
“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 distill the issues and to clear my name,” he said.
The controversy has reignited questions about possible systemic corruption in government institutions, particularly in sectors as strategic as petroleum.
Analysts note that while Dangote’s accusations raise serious issues about regulatory integrity and conflict of interests, Farouk’s refusal to engage publicly underscores the tension between transparency and official restraint.
For now, the matter rests with investigative the ICPC, the organization to whom Dangote has petitioned, but the clash between Africa’s richest man and Nigeria’s downstream regulator has spotlighted the fragile trust between private enterprise and public oversight in the country’s energy sector.
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