CSOs Pass Vote Of Confidence On NMDPRA Boss

A group of civil society organisations has passed a vote of confidence in Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), commending his leadership and reforms in the petroleum sector.

The endorsement came at the end of a Civil Society Roundtable Engagement on Appraisal of Reforms and Developments in the NMDPRA under Engr. Farouk Ahmed.

A communique signed by Igwe Ude Umanta and Kennedy Tabuko  among others on behalf of the groups said: “There is a general, though unsubstantiated belief, that all sectors of the petroleum industry is corrupt and operates in an opaque manner.

“The regulatory bodies under the petroleum industry often come under unfair attacks and outright blackmail. The regulatory bodies lack adequate public engagement and are therefore, reactionary to allegations or concerns.

“However, in the specific case of the NMDPRA under the leadership of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, while we continue to urge him to keep the bar raised, a lot of achievements have been recorded”.

The groups, which represent a broad spectrum of Nigerian society, commended Ahmed’s efforts to reposition the NMDPRA as a regulatory body of global standard and recognition.

The civil society groups noted that Ahmed’s leadership has brought stability and noticeable progress to the midstream and downstream sectors of the petroleum industry.

The CSOs said his introduction of key reforms has ensured energy security for the country, promoted gas utilisation, and supported industrialisation and economic growth.

According to them, some of the notable achievements recorded under Ahmed’s leadership include the issuance of gas licenses for Gas Clearing House and Settlement Platform, which is considered the best of its kind in Africa for gas trading.

Additionally, they said regulatory support to various gas programs, including the Presidential CNG Initiative and Midstream and Downstream Gas Infrastructure Fund, has been instrumental in driving growth in the sector.

The groups also commended Ahmed’s efforts to ameliorate the negative effects of the removal of petroleum subsidy through price stability, adequate product supply, and total elimination of queues.

They noted that his leadership has earned him several notable awards, including Executive Board Member of Gas Exporting Countries Forum (GECF), Transformational Leader of the Year 2025 at Energy Times Award, and Top 10 Regulatory Leaders of the Year, 2025 by Top 10 Magazine.

The civil society groups concluded that the NMDPRA is in safe hands under Ahmed’s leadership and recommended that he be awarded the prestigious Certificate of Credence of the Civil Society Roundtable for encouragement and to remain on track.