The Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, has denied issuing any public response to allegations made against him by the President of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote.
In a brief statement released on Wednesday, 17 December 2025, Ahmed said a message circulating on social media and attributed to him did not come from his office and was not authorised by him.
The controversy followed comments made by Dangote during a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery on Sunday, where he called for a full investigation into Ahmed’s finances. Dangote urged the regulator to appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to give a public explanation of his sources of income.
During the briefing, Dangote alleged that the cost of educating Ahmed’s children abroad raised serious questions. He claimed that four of the children spent six years in secondary school at a combined cost of about $5m, describing the figure as troubling for a public official.
Dangote also submitted a petition to the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission, asking the agency to investigate Ahmed’s financial dealings. He further accused the regulator of actions he said could harm the economy and weaken investor confidence, particularly through the approval of fuel import licences.
On Tuesday, a statement said to be signed by Ahmed surfaced online and spread widely. However, officials of the NMDPRA later confirmed that the document was not genuine.
Responding directly to the issue, Ahmed said he had deliberately avoided public exchanges despite being aware of the claims against him and his family. He stressed that the viral statement was not his and did not reflect his position.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made on the recent allegations against my person. I hereby state categorically that the so called statement did not emanate from me,” he said. He added that, as a regulator in a sensitive sector, he chose not to engage in public arguments.
Ahmed welcomed Dangote’s decision to take the matter to the ICPC, saying a formal investigation would allow the issues to be examined calmly and fairly. According to him, the probe would provide an opportunity for the facts to be reviewed and for him to clear his name.