President and Chief Executive Officer of Dangote Industries Limited, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Managing Director of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of alleged corruption, citing what he described as questionable education expenses for the official’s children.
Dangote made the allegation on Sunday while addressing journalists at a press conference held at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. During the briefing, Africa’s richest man spoke extensively about the challenges confronting Nigeria’s oil and gas sector and the hurdles facing his refinery project.
According to Dangote, Ahmed allegedly sent four of his children to secondary schools in Switzerland at a reported cost of about $5 million (approximately ₦7 billion), a figure he said raises serious questions about whether such spending aligns with the public official’s legitimate income.
He argued that expenses of that magnitude should attract scrutiny from tax and anti-corruption authorities, stressing that the lifestyles of public office holders must reflect their declared earnings.
Dangote also contrasted the alleged spending with the situation in Ahmed’s home state of Sokoto, where he said many parents struggle to pay school fees of as little as ₦100,000, forcing numerous children out of school.
Calling for a thorough investigation into the NMDPRA leadership, Dangote described corruption in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector as deeply entrenched, claiming it is even more sophisticated than criminal drug networks.
The billionaire businessman further alleged that his refinery has suffered sabotage linked to industry corruption, claiming losses of about $82 million due to stolen items. He made similar claims about the Port Harcourt refinery, suggesting that sabotage has contributed to the government’s difficulty in making it operational.
Despite what he described as persistent resistance from vested interests and fuel importers, Dangote said he remains committed to his $20 billion refinery project, insisting he will not abandon it regardless of the pressure and financial losses.
Dangote has been at odds with key industry players since his refinery began operations. Analysts say the resolution of the conflict could have far-reaching implications for Nigeria’s energy sector, especially as the refinery recently announced another fuel price reduction to ₦699 per litre.
