The new Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, has officially assumed office, pledging to strengthen regulation, improve operational efficiency and enhance energy security across Nigeria’s downstream petroleum sector.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu nominated Umar for the position on April 29, 2026, replacing Saidu Mohammed as head of the regulatory authority.
Umar, an accounting graduate of Bayero University, also completed executive programmes at Harvard Business School, including courses in General Management and Disruptive Strategy. He additionally holds an ISO 9001:2008 Lead Auditor certification focused on quality management systems and operational standards.
Before his appointment, Umar built extensive experience across Nigeria’s oil and gas and manufacturing sectors. He previously worked at Oando Plc, where he handled fuel logistics, retail operations, supply chain coordination and terminal management. He later served as Chief Executive Officer of Ashaka Cement PLC between 2016 and 2019 before becoming Group Chief Commercial Officer at Dangote Industries Limited in 2019.
Speaking during his assumption of duty ceremony, Umar thanked members of staff and management for sustaining the agency’s operations during the transition period.
“Good morning, everyone. I would like to start by saying a big thank you to the active ADS for filling in during this time,” he said.
Earlier, another official at the gathering commended the agency’s leadership and staff for ensuring continuity and stability within the authority.
“My colleagues and I, especially the ADS and acting ADS, worked tirelessly. We made sure that no vacuum was actually left,” the official stated.
The official added, “The kind of support we gave to Farouk, the kind of support we gave to Saidu Mohammed, you can rest assured that he will be there for you.”
Outlining his leadership direction, Umar stressed that the authority must remain firm in regulation, fair in conduct and fast in execution to create a more efficient and investment-friendly downstream petroleum sector. He further added that his guiding focus would be organisational discipline aimed at strengthening institutional performance.
“For me, if you ask me in a few words what my guiding thoughts are in terms of the direction, I would say organisation,” he stated.
He further reaffirmed the agency’s regulatory principles, saying, “Being firm in regulation, being fair in conduct, and fast in execution.”
In a further statement on his broader vision, Umar said, “I believe these are more or less three things that encapsulate whoever has the mission is going to be, to create an enabling environment for investment to thrive, driving security and sustainability, and also ensure that there is a level playing field for all players,” he added.
During his Senate screening, Umar has also pledged to strengthen Nigeria’s energy security framework amid growing concerns over global oil market volatility and fuel supply disruptions.
“Of course, shocks like the closure of Hormuz and the Iranian war will always have an impact on pricing,” Umar had said.
He explained that energy security must go beyond maintaining fuel reserves along Nigeria’s coastlines, stressing the need for effective nationwide distribution and storage systems.
“Energy security doesn't mean just having enough product for 20 days or for 30 days, but how do we ensure that we have products not just in tanks across the coastlines, but in every single location in the country?” he stated.
Umar’s assumption of office comes at a crucial period for Nigeria’s downstream petroleum industry as the sector faces fuel supply concerns, refinery expansion, pricing reforms and increasing pressure to strengthen regulatory oversight and investor confidence.