The Petroleum Retailers Outlet Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN) has reacted to recent claims linking the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Farouk Ahmed, to the payment of $5 million in private school fees for his four children, a controversy reignited by remarks from industrialist Aliko Dangote. PETROAN described characterisations of the $5 million figure as “blackmail” and urged stakeholders to separate technical critique of sector policy from personalised attacks on public servants.
The tuition allegation centres on claims that the education of Ahmed’s children in prestigious institutions abroad cannot be reconciled with his public sector earnings, with Dangote asserting that such expenses raise questions about transparency and economic conduct. Critics have also tied the issue to broader regulatory decisions by the NMDPRA, especially around the issuance of petroleum import licences that affect local refineries and market dynamics.
PETROAN stressed that the downstream petroleum sector already faces structural challenges, including unresolved bridging claims of approximately N100 billion owed to marketers, and that diverting attention to unverified personal allegations undermines efforts to address systemic matters affecting fuel supply, sector stability and investor confidence. The association reiterated its commitment to constructive dialogue with regulators such as the NMDPRA and called on all parties to rely on verified information and proper oversight mechanisms rather than unsubstantiated claims.
The controversy has seen various civil society actions in the past, including petitions and sit‑ins demanding investigations by anti‑corruption bodies, though some groups later withdrew petitions after discovering inaccuracies surrounding the claims.
