Dangote: NMDPRA CEO Must Be Probed, Prosecuted for Graft, Economic Sabotage 

·    Urges him to explain source of $5m children’s school fees in Switzerland

·    Laments issuance of import licenses for 7.5bn litres of petrol in Q1, 2026

·    Says petrol price to fall below N740 per litre before Xmas

·    Regulator keeps mum

Peter Uzoho 

President of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, yesterday, doubled down on his criticism of the regulator of the Nigerian downstream oil sector, calling for an investigation and prosecution of Chief Executive Officer of Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, over alleged economic sabotage and undermining of domestic refining in the country.

Speaking at a press conference at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery, Ibeju-Lekki, Lagos State, Dangote accused the leadership of NMDPRA of colluding with international traders and oil importers to frustrate local refining through the continued issuance of import licences for petroleum products.

Dangote also alleged that Ahmed was living beyond his legitimate means, claiming that four of his children attend secondary schools in Switzerland at a cost of $5 million.

He insisted that such expenditure raised serious questions about potential conflicts of interest and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector.

The Dangote Group chairman assured Nigerians that the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS) or petrol would fall further, stating that petrol would sell at no more than N740 per litre from Tuesday, beginning in Lagos, because of his refinery’s reduction of gantry price to N699 per litre. 

He said MRS filling stations would be the first to reflect the new pricing.

Expressing concern over the state of the downstream sector, Dangote said Nigeria’s continued reliance on fuel imports was harming local production and discouraging investment in domestic refining. 

He disclosed that import licences covering approximately 7.5 billion litres of PMS had, reportedly, been issued for the first quarter of 2026, despite the availability of significant domestic refining capacity.

According to him, modular refineries are already struggling under the current policy environment and on the brink of extinction, while the persistent issuance of import permits further weakens the sector.

“I am not calling for his removal, but for a proper investigation. He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians. What is happening amounts to economic sabotage,” Dangote said.

He alleged that Ahmed paid as much as $5 million in tuition fees for his children’s secondary education in Switzerland, questioning how many Nigerians can afford such costs.

Dangote stated, “The Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB) or any other body deemed appropriate by the government, can investigate the matter. If he denies it, I will not only publish what he paid as tuition in those secondary schools, but I will also take legal steps to compel the schools to disclose the payments made by Farouk.

“I sent my own children to secondary schools here in Nigeria. How many Nigerians can afford to pay $5 million for secondary school tuition, not university education? In his home state of Sokoto, many parents are struggling to pay as little as N10,000 in school fees.”

Dangote described the downstream petroleum sector as being under severe strain, alleging the presence of entrenched interests that profit from fuel imports at the expense of national development.

He stated, “There are powerful interests in the oil sector. It is troubling that African countries continue to import refined products despite long-standing calls for value addition and domestic refining.

“The volume of imports being allowed into the country is unethical and does a disservice to Nigeria.”

Dangote stressed the need for a clear separation between regulatory oversight and commercial interests, warning that allowing traders to influence regulation would undermine the integrity of the sector.

He said, “The downstream sector must not be destroyed by personal interests. A trader should never be a regulator. Forty-seven licences have been issued, yet no new refineries are being built because the environment is not conducive.”

He maintained that Nigerians would ultimately benefit from local refining, even as fuel importers incurred losses. 

Dangote said he would not relent in ensuring that Nigerians enjoyed the benefits of domestic refining, stating that the company is working round the clock to ensure that recent reductions in the gantry price are fully reflected at the retail level.

He said from Tuesday, December 16, all MRS filling stations would begin to sell PMS at prices not exceeding N740 per litre, starting in Lagos. 

Dangote added that the refinery had reduced its minimum purchase requirement from two million litres to 500,000 litres to enable more marketers, including members of Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria (IPMAN), to participate.

“So if you come to the refinery today, you will get PMS at N699 per litre,” he said.

Dangote disclosed that despite frustration and sabotage, his refinery would deploy its Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) trucks in the coming days and was prepared to procure additional units beyond the initial 4,000 if required to sustain affordable pricing nationwide.

Responding to complaints from oil importers that the recent price reduction would result in losses, Dangote said the refinery was established primarily for the benefit of Nigerians.

“Anyone who chooses to continue importing, despite the availability of locally refined products, should be prepared to face the consequences,” he said.

He also highlighted quality differences, stating that products supplied through MRS and other off-takers from the refinery were straight-run fuels, unlike blended products imported from overseas markets.

He stated, “Nigerians have a choice to buy better quality fuel at a more affordable price or to buy blended PMS at a higher rate. Importers can continue to lose, so long as Nigerians benefit.”

Dangote said the refinery was driven more by legacy than profit, stating that he could have invested the $20 billion elsewhere if financial gain were his sole objective. He revealed plans to list the refinery on the Nigerian Exchange to allow Nigerians to own shares in the facility.

“We want every living Nigerian to have the opportunity to benefit, no matter how small their holding. If the market takes 55 per cent and I retain 45 per cent, I am satisfied,” he said.

He disclosed that discussions were ongoing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to enable Nigerians to purchase shares in naira while receiving dividends in dollars.

He accused NMDPRA of misrepresenting Dangote refinery’s capacity by publishing offtake figures rather than actual production levels.

“We have the capacity to meet local demand, and we have sufficient refined products in stock. But to keep prices high, imports are deliberately encouraged,” he said.

Dangote stated that attempts were being made to push the refinery into exporting products, only for them to be re-imported into Nigeria at higher prices.

“This refinery is for Nigerians first, and I am not giving up,” he said.

Dangote also disclosed that the refinery imported an average of 100 million barrels of crude oil annually from the United States, a figure expected to rise to 200 million barrels following expansion, due to insufficient domestic crude supply. 

He added that the refinery also sourced crude from Ghana and other countries, while exporting jet fuel and gasoline to the United States.

He further alleged that domestic refiners were forced to buy Nigerian crude at premiums of up to four dollars per barrel from the trading arms of international oil companies, placing them at a competitive disadvantage.

Dangote called on the government to ensure crude oil taxes were assessed based on actual transaction values, warning that the current system allows under-declaration and revenue losses.

When contacted by THISDAY for comments on the allegations by Dangote, NMDPRA’s spokesman, Mr. George Ene-Ita, declined to comment on the matter, saying, “No comment.”