Nigerians Mobilize Nationwide and Abroad, Demand Removal of NMDPRA CEO Farouk Ahmed

A coalition of civil society groups has announced coordinated protests across Nigeria and in diaspora hubs including New York and London, calling for the immediate dismissal of Farouk Ahmed, CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).

The demonstrations will begin Wednesday at Ahmed’s Abuja office and spread to major cities across the country. In parallel, diaspora protests are set for the UN House in New York and Nigeria House in London.

The coalition, comprising over 15 organizations such as Nigerian Citizens for Transparency, Anti-Corruption Alliance of Nigeria, Lagos Civil Rights Movement, and Global Nigerians Diaspora Forum, cited allegations of lavish personal spending by Ahmed, including millions spent on foreign education for his children, while millions of Nigerians struggle with basic school fees.

Speaking on behalf of the groups, Comrade Dan Danilson condemned Ahmed’s actions as a betrayal of public trust. He stated that such conduct “represents an intolerable insult to every struggling Nigerian” and called for unrelenting pressure until Ahmed is removed and investigated.

The coalition also accused Ahmed of undermining local refineries and protecting fuel importers, describing his tenure as a direct threat to Nigeria’s energy independence and economic well-being.

“These protests will send a clear message: the era of impunity in Nigeria’s petroleum sector must end. Nigerians, home and abroad, must unite to protect national resources from private enrichment,” Danilson added.

Organizers urged citizens to join both local and international demonstrations, emphasizing that failure to act decisively would signal tolerance for corruption at the highest levels.

The protests mark one of the most coordinated civil society campaigns in recent years, highlighting growing public demand for accountability in critical sectors of Nigeria’s economy.