The ongoing petrol price dispute in Nigeria intensified on Sunday when Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, publicly accused Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), of alleged financial impropriety.

During a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote asserted that Ahmed had spent approximately $5 million on the secondary education of his four children in Switzerland. He called for a comprehensive investigation and a public explanation regarding these claims.

According to Dangote, the purported expenditure raises significant questions about transparency and accountability, especially given Ahmed’s position as a public official. He urged that the matter be referred to the Code of Conduct Tribunal to assess whether the funds were legitimately earned.

“I have received complaints about a regulator whose children are being educated abroad,” Dangote stated. “The costs associated with six years of secondary education for four children allegedly amount to about $5 million. It is unimaginable that someone could spend that much without raising serious questions.”

The billionaire businessman argued that such spending seems inconsistent with income derived solely from public service and would typically draw scrutiny from tax and anti-corruption authorities. 

“When you consider his income, it does not align with the ability to pay such fees. Even if it were me spending $5 million, the tax authorities would want to investigate how I earned that amount and how much tax I paid,” he added.

Dangote also highlighted the financial struggles many Nigerians face, particularly in northern states, where families struggle to cover basic school fees.

“In places like Sokoto, individuals are struggling to afford ₦100,000 for school fees. Many children are out of school because of this burden. It's difficult to understand how a lifelong public servant could afford such expenses,” he remarked.

He emphasized that his comments were not a personal attack but rather a call for transparency. He noted that unresolved allegations of this nature could damage public trust and investor confidence in the regulatory system.

“I am not calling for his removal,” Dangote clarified. “I am advocating for a proper investigation. He should account for his actions and demonstrate that his position has not been compromised. What is occurring amounts to economic sabotage.”

The NMDPRA has previously dismissed similar allegations. In July, when protesters accused Ahmed of spending over $5.5 million on his children's education abroad, the agency labeled the claims as false and malicious, describing them as part of a coordinated smear campaign against its leadership.

As of the time of this report, the NMDPRA had not issued a new response to Dangote's latest remarks. This public exchange introduces a new dimension to the ongoing tensions between the Dangote Refinery and petroleum sector regulators, amid current debates over fuel pricing, import licenses, and market control in Nigeria’s downstream oil sector.