Coalition urges caution the over NMDPRA, Dangote feud

A coalition of lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy has called for caution in the disagreement between the leadership of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed and industrialist, Aliko Dangote over regulatory independence. The coalition noted that the ongoing feud was capable of discouraging both local and […]

A coalition of lawyers under the aegis of Lawyers in Defence of Democracy has called for caution in the disagreement between the leadership of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed and industrialist, Aliko Dangote over regulatory independence.

The coalition noted that the ongoing feud was capable of discouraging both local and foreign investors, if not halted.

The coalition made up of 40 lawyer said the disagreement was coming at a critical time when President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda was focused on implementing workable policies to attract investment and revitalise the economy.

The President of Dangote Industries Limited, Dangote had accused the NMDPRA boss of undermining regulatory independence.

He also alleged that Ahmed was living above his means as a public servant.

But the coalition, in a statement signed by Barrister Emeka Okafor, National Coordinator, and Barrister Mohammed Bello, Secretary, dismissed the corruption allegations m levelled against Ahmed.

They noted that the liberalisation of the downstream petroleum sector, driven by regulatory reforms under Engr. Ahmed’s leadership at the NMDPRA, has opened up the industry, attracted new investors and dismantled monopolistic tendencies.

“Ironically, the same reforms Dangote appears to be attacking are the very policies that enabled private sector participation, including the establishment of the Dangote Refinery,” Okafor stated.

According to the lawyers, the sector has witnessed renewed investor confidence, with additional refineries beyond the Dangote Refinery already completed or nearing commissioning.

A development they attributed to transparent and firm regulatory oversight by the NMDPRA.

The organisation reaffirmed its opposition to monopoly in the petroleum industry, insisting that Ahmed’s regulatory stance has promoted competition, fairness and national interest.

“As a group, we state unequivocally that the Chief Executive Officer of the NMDPRA, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, has not only been committed to his statutory responsibilities but has also remained clean of corruption based on our independent findings,” the statement read.

While reiterating their commitment to accountability and good governance, the lawyers urged Nigerians to disregard the unsubstantiated allegations.

The coalition called on stakeholders to respect the autonomy of regulatory institutions and desist from actions capable of destabilising critical sectors of the economy.

They called on the Federal Government to continue to support reform-driven, independent and professional leadership at the NMDPRA in the overall interest of national development.