The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Nigeria’s federal government agency responsible for regulating petroleum midstream and downstream activities, has completed a formal leadership transition with the handover of responsibilities from its outgoing Authority Chief Executive, Engineer Farouk Ahmed, to the newly appointed chief executive, Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed.
The transition ceremony, which took place on Tuesday, marked the official transfer of leadership at the Authority and was designed to reinforce continuity, accountability, and institutional stability within Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory framework. The event brought together members of the Authority’s executive management, senior officials, and staff.
Okay News reports that the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority disclosed details of the handover through a statement published on its official X platform, where it emphasised that the ceremony reflected its commitment to effective leadership and orderly governance in line with public service standards.
According to the Authority, the ceremony concluded with the symbolic transfer of official documents and statutory responsibilities from Engineer Farouk Ahmed to Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed, formally marking the change in leadership.
“The ceremony concluded with the symbolic transfer of documents and responsibilities, signalling a seamless and orderly transition in line with public service rules and corporate best practices,” the Authority stated.
The leadership change comes at a significant moment for Nigeria’s midstream and downstream petroleum sector, as the Federal Government of Nigeria intensifies reforms aimed at strengthening energy security, improving efficiency in fuel supply, and attracting both local and international investment under the Petroleum Industry Act 2021, Nigeria’s landmark oil and gas reform law.
Engineer Farouk Ahmed, who was appointed in 2021 by former Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, resigned from his position ahead of the scheduled end of his tenure in 2026. His appointment had followed the unbundling of the former Department of Petroleum Resources into two independent regulatory bodies under the Petroleum Industry Act.
Following Ahmed’s resignation, Nigeria’s President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, sought and obtained the approval of Nigeria’s National Assembly for the appointment of Engineer Saidu Aliyu Mohammed as the new Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority.
Since its establishment, the Authority has been tasked with regulating gas processing, transportation infrastructure, petroleum product distribution, and retail operations across Africa’s largest oil-producing economy. Its responsibilities became even more critical following the removal of petrol subsidy and the shift toward market-based pricing.
During Ahmed’s tenure, the Authority implemented several regulatory interventions in fuel supply management, licensing processes, infrastructure oversight, and pricing deregulation, particularly during periods of market adjustment after subsidy removal.
The appointment of Mohammed is expected to sustain ongoing reforms while strengthening regulatory oversight across the petroleum midstream and downstream value chains, especially as Nigeria seeks to deepen domestic gas utilisation, stabilise petroleum product availability, and enhance transparency across the energy market.
The Authority reiterated that the orderly nature of the handover reflects its adherence to governance principles designed to ensure stability and continuity in Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory environment.
