JUSTIN; Coalition Demands NMDPRA Boss’s Removal Amid Allegations of Abuse of Power

The Coalition of Northern Youths has demanded the immediate removal of the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Mr. Farouk Ahmed, over the alleged possession of a refinery and blending plant in Malta.

The youth spokesperson, Muhammed Saad Aboki, stated on Sunday that this demand became necessary after a deep and thorough review of recent events surrounding the chief executive officer.

He stated that the allegations against Mr. Ahmed include “abuse of office and using his position as CEO of a regulatory body to undermine local refineries and frustrate their operations and existence. This is particularly troubling because the existence of these refineries would reduce demand for foreign exchange and strengthen the Naira. He has been hiding under the pretense of claiming that these refineries produce inferior products, whereas it is the imported products that are inferior.”

“As the CEO of a regulatory body in the oil and gas industry, he has been granting licenses to traders who regularly import diesel with high-sulfur content (around 1800ppm and 2000ppm, respectively) into Nigeria, fully aware that such products pose grave health risks and result in huge financial losses for the country.

“He has also been making reckless and unguarded statements without conducting any prior investigation, which has sparked national outrage and further tension in the country amidst ongoing protests against the government.

“He has deliberately acted against the Petroleum Industry Act (Section 109), which introduced the Domestic Crude Supply Obligation to ensure that local refineries receive crude allocations without being strangled.

“He is also alleged to possess a refinery/blending plant in Malta, hence his continued insistence on the importation of fuel, which constitutes an act of economic sabotage, as the imported products have been shown to contain high levels of dangerous compounds,” he said.

The statement continued: “In view of this unfortunate and rather shameful development, the Coalition of Northern Youths has unanimously resolved to call for the removal of Engineer Farouk Ahmed to allow for a neutral ground on which a proper investigation into the various allegations against him can be conducted.

“We firmly believe that only if he is not in the picture can a thorough investigation be carried out without any obstruction or bias.

“Sir, you will concur with me that it is high time we start punishing the perpetrators of bribery, corruption, unprofessionalism, and incompetence to serve as a deterrent and also in line with President Tinubu’s renewed hope agenda to make Nigeria a better nation.”