LAGOS, Nigeria — Industrialist Aliko Dangote has intensified his confrontation with Nigeria’s petroleum regulator, filing a petition accusing the head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, of corruption and obstructing the country’s shift toward locally refined fuel.
Dangote alleges that Ahmed made advance payments exceeding 7 million dollars for his children’s education in Switzerland, a sum he argues is inconsistent with the earnings of a public official. He has asked the country’s anti‑corruption agency to investigate the source of the funds and prosecute the regulator if any violations are uncovered.
The petition marks a sharp escalation in a dispute that has been building since the launch of the Dangote Refinery, a 650,000‑barrel‑per‑day facility expected to reshape fuel supply across West Africa. Dangote says regulatory decisions have slowed the refinery’s market entry and allowed importers to retain control of Nigeria’s fuel supply chain.
Ahmed, a veteran energy administrator and the pioneer chief executive of the NMDPRA, has not publicly responded to the allegations. His leadership has come under renewed scrutiny as the conflict widens, with critics questioning regulatory transparency and supporters citing his decades of industry experience.
The presidency has not commented on the petition, but senior officials privately acknowledge that the dispute has become a political liability at a time when the government is attempting to stabilize fuel prices and reassure investors about ongoing energy reforms. The petroleum ministry has also declined to issue a statement.
Industry groups warn that the standoff is already affecting market confidence. Fuel marketers say uncertainty around regulatory decisions has slowed contracting and raised concerns about supply reliability. Some traders report hesitancy among international partners who are watching Nigeria’s downstream reforms closely.
The Independent Petroleum Marketers Association of Nigeria has urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, saying the dispute risks disrupting distribution networks. IPMAN President Maigandi Garima said the industry “cannot afford prolonged instability,” adding that a government‑led dialogue is needed to restore clarity.
Dangote has accused the regulator of enabling economic sabotage by continuing to issue fuel import licenses despite the availability of domestic refining capacity. He argues that Nigeria’s reliance on imported fuel persists because regulatory decisions favor foreign suppliers, keeping pump prices higher than necessary.
The showdown between Dangote and Ahmed has also exposed a deeper tension within Nigeria’s fuel industry: the struggle for control is often shaped less by national priorities and more by the competing ambitions of powerful actors. Dangote presents his refinery as a patriotic answer to decades of fuel dependency, but critics say he is positioning himself to dominate the market. Ahmed insists he is defending competition and regulatory fairness, yet corruption allegations and opaque decision‑making have fueled suspicions that the system protects entrenched interests rather than consumers.
Public reaction has been sharply divided. Some Nigerians view the petition as a necessary step toward accountability in a sector long plagued by political interference and back‑door deals, while others see the clash as another elite power struggle in which ordinary citizens become collateral damage.
The anti‑corruption commission has not commented on the petition. As the investigation unfolds, analysts say the outcome could influence the credibility of Nigeria’s regulatory framework, the pace of the country’s transition away from fuel imports, and the long‑term viability of the Dangote Refinery’s role in the regional energy market.
