President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the removal of Saidu Mohammed as the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), naming Rabiu Abdullahi Umar as his replacement.
The development was disclosed in a statement issued on Tuesday by Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, who confirmed that Umar’s appointment is subject to Senate confirmation.
Rabiu Abdullahi Umar brings over two decades of cross-sector experience spanning energy, manufacturing, finance, and infrastructure. He has built a career across major industrial and energy firms, positioning him as a seasoned corporate executive with deep operational and strategic expertise.
Prior to his nomination, Umar held senior leadership roles at Dangote Industries Limited, where he served as Group Chief Commercial Officer. He was also associated with Dangote Cement Plc as Group Sales and Marketing Director, overseeing commercial strategy and market expansion initiatives.
His professional background includes significant contributions to energy and infrastructure development. At Lafarge Africa Plc, he worked on power and energy projects aimed at strengthening electricity supply systems.
Umar also served as Managing Director of Ashaka Cement Plc, where he led corporate operations and implemented turnaround strategies to improve performance.
In the oil and gas sector, he spent over a decade at Oando Plc, gaining experience across finance, marketing, operations, and logistics, including terminal management.
His appointment comes at a critical time for Nigeria’s downstream and midstream petroleum sectors, with expectations that his extensive industry experience will support regulatory reforms and operational efficiency at the NMDPRA.
