The Arewa Youths Forum for Equity and Transparency has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to suspend Engr. Farouk Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA).
According to Arewa youths, this is following revelations that he allegedly spent over $5.5 million on the foreign education of his children.
In a statement released on Thursday, the group’s President, Aminu Salihu Muktar, said the sheer scale of unexplained expenditure by a public servant raised serious red flags and undermined the integrity of public service in Nigeria.
He said: “President Tinubu must now confront a familiar moral question—what makes Ahmed Farouq any different from Betta Edu or Babachir Lawal. Both were removed from office for actions that cast doubt on their integrity. We expect the same standards to apply across the board.”
The group claimed that reports showed that Ahmed’s children attended some of the most expensive secondary schools in Europe, including Montreux Secondary School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, with one later transferred to NIIT Pune in India.
It noted that the cumulative tuition and upkeep for the four children allegedly amounts to approximately $5.5 million, a sum far beyond the lifetime earnings of a civil servant.
“Farouk Ahmed didn’t deny the schools his children attended. He didn’t show any proof of personal business, inheritance, or lawful income. In fact, he has never worked outside government. So Nigerians are right to ask: where did the $5.5 million come from?” the group queried.
It said it would be irresponsible for the Tinubu administration to ignore such glaring financial inconsistencies, especially in a time of deepening public distrust and economic hardship.
“At a time when millions of children in northern Nigeria can’t afford school uniforms or even access to basic education, a public officer spends $200,000 per child per year on Swiss boarding schools. If this isn’t a textbook case of abuse of office, what is?” Muktar said.
“President Tinubu showed resolve in the cases of Betta Edu who was removed when it became clear that her continued presence in government would cast a shadow over the administration’s moral authority. The same logic must apply here. The facts are public, the outrage is real, and silence is no longer an option,” he said.
The group called on Tinubu to immediately suspend Ahmed pending an impartial investigation by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and Code of Conduct Bureau.
“We’re not demanding punishment without process. We’re demanding process – open, transparent, and impartial. That is what justice looks like. If he is innocent, the evidence will clear him. But if not, then justice must take its course,” he said.
Meanwhile, Naijaonpoint recalls that NMDPRA strongly refuted calls for Farouk Ahmed’s resignation, describing the allegations as baseless and part of an orchestrated smear campaign.
In a statement, the Authority noted that these calls lacked any specific claims of wrongdoing, describing them as “bold declarations lacking substance or detail,” which underscored the frivolous nature of the campaign.
“The allegations being peddled are false, without merit, and bereft of any factual foundation,” the statement read. “The absence of specific claims or verifiable details is, in itself, a clear indication of their falsity.”
The Authority further stressed its commitment to transparency and accountability, noting that its financial operations are routinely scrutinized by both internal and external auditors, including internationally recognized audit firms, as well as through oversight by the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and the National Assembly’s relevant committees.
“It is inconceivable that any credible allegation of misappropriation or abuse of office could escape detection under such rigorous oversight,” the Authority asserted.
The NMDPRA also questioned the sudden emergence of the groups behind the protests, describing them as unknown entities in both legal and civil society circles.
It expressed suspicion over the level of resources deployed by these groups, including professionally designed banners and coordinated media access.
“Such energy, if genuinely intended to serve the public, would have been better applied through formal accountability channels already in place,” the statement noted.
While reiterating its openness to genuine accountability efforts, the Authority accused the campaigners of pursuing hidden agendas.
Under Engr. Farouk Ahmed’s leadership, the NMDPRA said it has made significant progress in implementing the Petroleum Industry Act (PIA) 2021, which aims to reform the sector, promote transparency, and ensure equitable distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
“These reforms have enhanced operational stability, broadened access to regulatory information, and created a fair playing field for all industry participants—developments that naturally unsettle those who benefit from opacity,” the statement added.
The Authority urged Nigerians and stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to dismiss the accusations and focus instead on the ongoing positive changes within the sector.
“These ridiculous claims are distractions from those seeking to derail our statutory duties and the commendable reforms being championed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu,” it concluded.