Attention on EFCC as Dangote, Ahmed’s spat exposes alleged multi-million dollar corruption
By Folarin Ademosu
The attention of many Nigerians is now riveted on the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission after the chairperson of the Dangote Refinery and Petrochemical Company, Aliko Dangote, alleged that the chief executive officer Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Agency (NMDPRA) is living above his legitimate earning as a civil servant.
Dangote, during a press conference, on Sunday, alleged that Ahmed had four children attending a secondary school in Switzerland, for which he pays a whopping $5million as school fees. “I am not calling for his (Ahmed’s) removal, but for a proper investigation. He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians,” Dangote said.
The personal attack on Ahmed came amid other allegations by Dangote that Ahmed had continued to issue import licenses for petroleum products, calling it a conspiracy between the agency and international traders and oil importers to frustrate local refineries, like his. Dangote said the NMDPRA had so far issued licences for importation of approximately 7.5 billion litres of PMS for the first quarter of 2026, despite the availability of significant domestic refining capacity.
Dangote also said, “There are powerful interests in the oil sector. It is troubling that African countries continue to import refined products despite long-standing calls for value addition and domestic refining. The volume of imports being allowed into the country is unethical and does a disservice to Nigeria.”
“The downstream sector must not be destroyed by personal interests. A trader should never be a regulator. Forty-seven licences have been issued, yet no new refineries are being built because the environment is not conducive,” he said.
