By Ayomide Otitoju
Founder and President/Chief Executive of the Dangote Group, Aliko Dangote, has accused the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Farouk Ahmed, of corruption, alleging that he spent about $5 million on secondary school education for his children in Switzerland.
Dangote made the allegation on Sunday during a media briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos, describing the alleged expenditure as inconsistent with the earnings of a public servant and a threat to public confidence in regulatory institutions.
According to Dangote, the alleged sum covered six years of secondary education for four children, an amount he said could not be reasonably justified by income from public service.
He questioned why a public official could afford to spend millions of dollars on foreign education while many Nigerians struggle to pay modest school fees, insisting that taxpayers deserve transparency and accountability.
Dangote further argued that the alleged expenditure raised serious concerns about income declaration, conflicts of interest, and the integrity of regulatory oversight in the downstream petroleum sector. He said such issues undermine trust in public institutions and must not be ignored.
While calling for accountability, Dangote said Ahmed should not be immediately dismissed but should be investigated by relevant authorities to clear his name. He urged bodies such as the Code of Conduct Bureau or any other appropriate agency to examine whether the official’s declared income aligns with the alleged spending.
Dangote warned that if the allegation was denied, he would pursue legal steps to compel disclosure, including seeking confirmation from the schools involved on the actual fees paid.
He also criticised what he described as a widening gap between the living conditions of public officials and ordinary Nigerians, noting that many families cannot afford basic secondary education.
As of the time of filing this report, Ahmed has not responded publicly to the allegations.
