Founder and President/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of corruption. Dangote alleges that Ahmed spent $5 million on secondary school education for his children in Switzerland.
Dangote made the allegation during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos. He described the alleged expenditure as inconsistent with a public servant’s income and a threat to public trust in regulatory institutions.
According to Dangote, the payment covered six years of secondary education for four children, an amount he argued could not reasonably be explained by earnings from public service. He contrasted Ahmed’s situation with that of ordinary Nigerians, stating, “From where he comes from, people are struggling to pay ₦100,000 for secondary school fees.”
Dangote expressed concerns over accountability, income declaration, and regulatory integrity in the downstream petroleum sector. He emphasized the necessity for Ahmed to explain how he funded such an extravagant education for his children.
Furthermore, Dangote stated that if the allegations are denied, he would take legal steps to compel disclosure of the actual tuition fees paid. He called for a thorough investigation by the Code of Conduct Bureau or any relevant authority to verify whether Ahmed’s income matches the alleged school fees.
