Reported by: Oahimire Omone Precious | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Lagos, Nigeria — Billionaire industrialist Aliko Dangote has escalated a public dispute with Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), by alleging that the regulator spent an extraordinary sum of money on his children’s education abroad — claims that have ignited controversy over regulatory integrity, wealth accountability and the conduct of senior public officials.
Speaking at a media briefing held at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Dangote, President and Chief Executive of Dangote Industries Limited, accused Farouk Ahmed of living well beyond his legitimate means and questioned how a career public servant could afford to spend what he described as about $5 million on the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland over six years. Dangote said the expenditure — reportedly covering elite Swiss schools — was inconsistent with the official income of a public sector chief executive and raised pressing concerns about conflicts of interest and accountability.
Dangote told journalists that he had been approached by Nigerians who were “complaining about a regulator” who chose to send his children to foreign secondary schools at a cost that he said far exceeded typical incomes in public service. “My children went to secondary school in Nigeria. They didn’t go outside Nigeria to attend secondary school,” Dangote said, contrasting ordinary Nigerians’ struggle to afford basic school fees with the lavish spending he attributed to Ahmed. He said that one of Ahmed’s children had recently completed studies at Harvard University, further intensifying questions about the source of such funds on a regulator’s official salary.
The allegations have been amplified by civic and anti-corruption organisations. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged agencies such as the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and other related offences Commission (ICPC) to investigate Ahmed’s financial affairs in light of the claims. SERAP’s call reflects broader public anxiety about transparency and the potential misuse of public office for personal gain.
Dangote has insisted that Ahmed should not be summarily dismissed but must face investigation by appropriate authorities, including a review of whether his income and declared wealth align with the alleged $5 million expenditure. He emphasised that accountability and transparency are essential in public service, especially in regulatory institutions that oversee critical sectors of the national economy. Dangote said the alleged spending, if true, would be troubling given the economic hardships many Nigerians face, particularly in areas where basic school fees remain out of reach for most families.
In addition to education spending, Dangote’s remarks formed part of a broader critique of the NMDPRA’s performance, including allegations that the regulator has undermined local refining efforts by issuing import licences for millions of litres of petroleum products, a practice he described as economic sabotage that favours importers at the expense of domestic refineries and job creation. These wider claims have heightened tensions between one of Nigeria’s most influential industrialists and the government regulator charged with managing the downstream petroleum sector.
The NMDPRA and Farouk Ahmed have not publicly responded to Dangote’s allegations as of the latest reports, and the regulator’s office has not issued detailed statements addressing the specific claims about children’s education expenses or the broader issues raised. However, earlier in the year, similar concerns about unexplained wealth and lifestyle had been raised by civil society groups, who urged transparency and probes into Ahmed’s financial conduct — matters that remain unresolved in public discourse.
Critics of Dangote’s approach argue that such public accusations can inflame public opinion before due process and formal investigations are conducted, while supporters say that high-profile scrutiny is necessary to reinforce norms of accountability for public officials. The unfolding controversy highlights ongoing challenges in Nigeria’s efforts to balance regulatory independence, anti-corruption enforcement and public confidence in institutions entrusted with managing national economic interests.
As calls for formal investigation grow, public attention remains focused on whether relevant authorities will initiate inquiries into the allegations and whether Farouk Ahmed will publicly defend his financial record and clarify how funds for his children’s overseas education were reportedly obtained and disbursed.
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