Meet Saidu Mohammed, Ex-NNPC Refinery Chief Picked to Lead NMDPRA as Embattled Farouk Bows Out

President Bola Tinubu nominated Saidu Aliyu Mohammed on Wednesday to lead the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Commission following the resignation of Farouk Ahmed as chief executive officer amid corruption allegations levelled by billionaire Aliko Dangote against him. 

Mohammed is a seasoned energy executive with over 37 years of experience in the oil and gas industry, specialising in natural gas development, commercialisation, and infrastructure. 

He served as Group Executive Director/Chief Operating Officer, Gas and Power Directorate at the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), where he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, where he provided strategic leadership for major gas projects and policy frameworks, including the Gas Masterplan, Gas Network Code, and contributions to the Petroleum Industry Act.

Mohammed previously held top executive positions as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Company, and chaired boards of several strategic entities, including West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail.

He played a pivotal role in conceptualizing and delivering critical gas infrastructure projects such as the Escravos–Lagos Pipeline Expansion, Ajaokuta–Kaduna–Kano Gas Pipeline, and Nigeria LNG Train 7. His leadership extended to international engagements, representing Nigeria at the Gas Exporting Countries Forum and the West African Gas Pipeline Authority.

Mohammed previously held top executive positions as Managing Director of Kaduna Refining and Petrochemical Company, Managing Director of Nigerian Gas Company, and chaired boards of several strategic entities, including West African Gas Pipeline Company, Nigeria LNG subsidiaries, and NNPC Retail. He is a Fellow of the Nigerian Society of Engineers and the Nigerian Society of Chemical Engineers, and a registered engineer with COREN. He holds a B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria.