Reported by: Ijeoma G | Edited by: Gabriel Osa
Abuja — Senator Adams Oshiomhole has voiced strong approval of the recent exit of Farouk Ahmed, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), framing it as a necessary step toward reviving Nigeria’s domestic industrial economy and creating jobs for citizens. His remarks at a Senate session on Thursday also carried a pointed warning to the incoming leadership of the regulatory agency about the urgent need for policy choices that prioritise local industry over import dependence.
Oshiomhole, a veteran politician and former governor of Edo State who now represents Edo North in the Senate, said he “celebrated” Ahmed’s departure and described his removal as essential for the nation’s economic survival. In unambiguous terms, he insisted that those opposed to job creation and supportive of policies that favour importation over domestic production are ill-suited to manage critical sectors of the economy.
The senator’s comments came during the screening of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s nominee for the NMDPRA leadership, a forum in which lawmakers also discussed broader expectations for Nigeria’s petroleum regulatory framework. Oshiomhole said the real test for regulators is not merely academic qualifications, but the direction of their policy choices — especially those that affect local refining, industrial expansion and employment. He emphasised that deliberate protection of local industries, as practised in many advanced economies, should be at the heart of the sector’s regulatory agenda if meaningful job creation is to be achieved.
The context for Oshiomhole’s remarks is a shift in leadership at key petroleum agencies following the resignation of Farouk Ahmed, who stepped down amid controversy and pressure after allegations were raised by prominent industrialist Aliko Dangote that regulators had been adopting policies unfavourable to local refining capacity. President Tinubu has since forwarded new nominees to the Senate for confirmation, signalling institutional change at a time when energy policy is under intense scrutiny.
Oshiomhole was critical of what he described as “shameful” past policy decisions that favoured imports, contending that such approaches undermine efforts to harness Nigeria’s rich hydrocarbon resources for industrialisation and employment generation. He warned the newly appointed leadership that Nigerians expect transformative leadership that will not only defend national economic interests but also stimulate job creation through support for local production, especially labour-intensive industries like refining.
Beyond his praise for the removal of Farouk Ahmed, Oshiomhole’s broader message underscored his belief that the petroleum sector must be reformed not only to enhance economic performance, but to deliver tangible social benefits in the form of jobs and improved livelihoods. He voiced the expectation that decisions taken by regulators should primarily advance the welfare of Nigerian workers, engineers and entrepreneurs — a priority he said was too often overlooked in recent years.
Industry watchers note that Oshiomhole’s stance reflects growing pressure from lawmakers and business leaders for the nation to shift away from policies that have historically emphasised fuel imports, which critics say contribute little to domestic employment or value addition in the oil and gas sector. Instead, stakeholders argue that nurturing local refining and broadening industrial participation in the oil value chain can bolster economic resilience and reduce dependency on imported petroleum products.
While Oshiomhole’s language was fiery, his underlying message points to a broader debate within Nigeria’s political and economic discourse about the role of regulatory governance in fostering inclusive growth. In urging the incoming leadership to adopt policies that do more than sustain the status quo, he positioned job creation as a litmus test for meaningful reform within one of the country’s most critical sectors.
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