By Ghazali Ibrahim
Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, has released new allegations against the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, accusing him of living far beyond his means as a public servant.
In a paid newspaper advertisement published Tuesday, Dangote detailed the alleged foreign education expenses of Farouk Ahmed’s four children, claiming they attended elite Swiss boarding schools including Institut Le Rosey, Aiglon College, Montreux International School, and La Garenne with total costs exceeding 7 million.
According to Dangote, one of the children also completed a 150,000 MBA at Harvard University in 2025, raising further questions about the source of funding.
“These expenses are not consistent with the known earnings of a Nigerian public servant,” the publication stated, calling for immediate scrutiny by anti-corruption agencies.
The billionaire’s move is the latest in an ongoing battle between his conglomerate and the NMDPRA, following Dangote’s earlier accusation that the agency is frustrating his refinery operations by allegedly favoring fuel importers with excessive licenses.
Dangote had previously called for Farouk’s prosecution over economic sabotage, alleging that his actions benefit international fuel traders at the expense of Nigeria’s energy security.
As of the time of this report, neither Farouk Ahmed nor the NMDPRA has responded to the fresh claims.
The revelations are expected to trigger public debate and may prompt investigations into regulatory conduct and transparency in the petroleum sector.
