Mr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), has clarified that he has not issued any response to the recent claims made by Aliko Dangote, President of Dangote Industries Limited.
In a statement released on Wednesday in Abuja, Ahmed said he was aware of the unfounded allegations directed at him and his family, as well as the public attention they have attracted.
He explained that, given his role as a regulator in a sensitive sector, he chose not to respond to the claims in the public domain.
Dangote had earlier accused NMDPRA’s leadership of collaborating with international traders and petroleum importers to undermine local refining efforts. He claimed this was done through the continued granting of import licenses for petroleum products.
Dangote also alleged that Ahmed was living beyond his means, citing that four of his children attend secondary schools in Switzerland at substantial expense.
“My attention has been drawn to a purported response I was said to have made regarding the recent allegations,” Ahmed said.
“I wish to clarify that no such statement came from me. I am confident that the appropriate investigative process will objectively address the claims and allow the truth to emerge,” he added.