A coalition of civil society organisations has
announced coordinated nationwide protests across Nigeria, alongside simultaneous
demonstrations in New York and London, demanding the immediate removal of Farouk
Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream
Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
The protests are scheduled to begin on Wednesday in
Abuja, starting from Ahmed’s office, and will run throughout the week in
major Nigerian cities. Diaspora protests are also planned for the United
Nations House in New York and Nigeria House in London.
The coalition includes groups such as Nigerian
Citizens for Transparency (NCT), Anti-Corruption Alliance of Nigeria
(ACAN), Coalition for Economic Justice (CEJ), Petroleum Workers
Union of Nigeria (PWUN), Global Nigerians Diaspora Forum (GNDF), International
Coalition Against Corruption (ICAC), and several others operating both
locally and internationally.
In a statement issued on behalf of the coalition, Comrade
Dan Danilson accused Ahmed of betraying public trust, alleging that he
spent millions of dollars sending his children to elite schools in
Switzerland while citizens in his home state of Sokoto and across
Nigeria struggle to afford basic education.
“Nigerians are deeply shocked and outraged that a
public official entrusted with regulating a critical national resource has
allegedly squandered millions of dollars on luxury education abroad while
millions of Nigerians cannot afford basic school fees,” the statement said.
Danilson described the allegations as a symbol of extravagance,
inequality, and alleged corruption, vowing sustained protests until Ahmed
is removed and investigated.
He further accused the NMDPRA boss of conflict of
interest and economic sabotage, alleging that his actions have undermined
Nigeria’s push for energy independence by favouring fuel importers over local
refining capacity.
“By protecting fuel importers and undermining local
refineries, Ahmed has chosen personal gain over national progress,” Danilson
alleged, adding that such actions have worsened fuel scarcity and economic
hardship.
The coalition warned that failure to act on the
allegations would signal institutional tolerance for corruption in a
critical sector of the economy, insisting that only Ahmed’s immediate
removal could restore public confidence.
“The protests beginning Wednesday will send a clear
message: Farouk Ahmed must go,” the statement concluded.
As of the time of filing this report, Farouk Ahmed
and the NMDPRA have not issued an official response to the allegations.
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