Tinubu sacks NMDPRA boss, nominates Umar as replacement...

President Bola Tinubu has removed Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) barely four months after his appointment.

CBI News reports that the President also nominated Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the authority, subject to Senate confirmation.

According to a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, the decision was taken “in the public interest” and in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act 2021.

“The President has also approved the nomination of Mr Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as the new Chief Executive of the NMDPRA. The appointment is subject to Senate confirmation,” the statement read.

The statement added that the move is aimed at strengthening regulatory effectiveness in the midstream and downstream petroleum sector under the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.

Pending the Senate’s confirmation of the nominee, the President directed that the most senior official in the agency should oversee operations in an acting capacity.

Umar is described as a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience spanning the energy, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

He holds a degree in Accounting from Bayero University and is an alumnus of Harvard Business School.

President Tinubu also commended the outgoing Chief Executive for his service and wished him well in his future endeavours.

Onanuga noted that the President remains committed to appointing capable leadership in key regulatory institutions to advance energy security, sector reforms and sustainable economic growth.