NMDPRA CEO, Ahmed Farouk is currently under fire over alleged misuse of public funds.
NewsOnline Nigeria reports that the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Engr. Ahmed Farouk, has come under intense criticism following allegations of misusing public funds to finance the foreign education of his children.
The Sokoto State Students Forum (SSSF), in a strongly worded statement signed by its president, Abdullahi Al-Majeed, has demanded Farouk’s immediate removal from office, accusing him of “unforgivable abuse of public trust” and “mocking the suffering of Nigerian students.”
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According to the group, credible civil society organizations provided evidence indicating that Engr. Farouk used public resources to sponsor his children, Faisal Farouk, Ashraf Farouk, Farouk Jr., and Farhana Farouk at elite institutions such as Aiglon College, La Garenne International School, Institut Le Rosey, and Montreux Secondary School, where annual tuition reportedly exceeds $130,000, excluding other costs. The total expenditure is estimated at $5.5 million.
“In a country with over 10 million out-of-school children, it is a disgrace that a public servant could spend such a staggering amount on foreign education for his family,” Al-Majeed stated.
“This is a betrayal of trust and a slap in the face of struggling Nigerian students.”
The group also expressed disappointment at the silence from the Presidency, warning that this inaction could damage the public’s confidence in the current administration. They urged President Bola Tinubu to uphold the same standards he applied in the suspension of other officials, such as Betta Edu.
“If the government could act swiftly in the case of Betta Edu, then Engr. Farouk should not be treated differently. No public official is above the law,” Al-Majeed said.
The SSSF further criticized NMDPRA for allegedly using public funds to sponsor full-page newspaper adverts in a bid to deflect attention from the allegations, instead of publishing transparent records to clarify the source of funding.
“What we expected was transparency—proof that Farouk has legitimate income sources outside government to afford such extravagance. Instead, the agency chose to gaslight the public. That is unacceptable,” the statement added.
The group warned that students across tertiary institutions in Sokoto and surrounding states are prepared to stage peaceful protests if the Federal Government fails to act within weeks.
“We are consulting widely, and if nothing is done, we will mobilize and take our demands to Abuja. Enough is enough,” Al-Majeed declared.
