Aliko Dangote, founder and CEO of the Dangote Group, has accused Farouk Ahmed, the CEO of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), of corruption.
Aliko Dangote claimed that Ahmed spent $5 million on secondary school fees for his children in Switzerland.
The allegation was made during a media briefing on Sunday at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery and Fertiliser Plant in Lekki, Lagos.
Dangote described the reported spending as far beyond what a public servant could afford, raising concerns about public trust and the integrity of regulatory institutions.
Dangote said the $5 million reportedly covered six years of secondary education for four children, noting that such expenses are difficult to justify with a government salary.
He compared this to his own children’s education in Nigeria, saying they did not attend school abroad.
“I’ve had people actually complaining about a regulator who put his children in secondary school, and that secondary school education, which is six years, four of them cost Nigeria five million dollars.
“My children went to secondary school in Nigeria. They did not go outside Nigeria to attend secondary school.
“This is a system where some of us are taxpayers. When people are complaining, we also complain, because when I pay tax, I want to see my money put to use, not stolen.
“I don’t know why the authority chief executive, Mallam Farouk, has four children educated in Switzerland at the cost of five million dollars for their secondary school education alone, not university,” he alleged
He added that the alleged spending raises questions about income declaration, conflicts of interest, and the management of the downstream petroleum sector.
Dangote also referenced reports that Ahmed’s children attended prestigious overseas universities, including Harvard.
“The man must come and explain to Nigerians how he paid five million dollars for six years of his four children’s education.
“I don’t think any of you here has paid that kind of fees for your own children. We cannot allow this to continue, because we must make sure people do not come and destroy a country just because they want to make a living that is not genuine or legal.
“I know that one of them just finished Harvard. I want to see what kind of system we are operating where people are busy destroying a country and taking money from government, because their income does not match this kind of spending.
“Even if it were me paying five million dollars for six years for four children, the taxman would have to look at my taxes and ask how much I paid,” he said.
Dangote emphasized that Ahmed should not be immediately removed from his position but must first be investigated by relevant authorities.
“The Code of Conduct Bureau, or any other body deemed appropriate by the government, should investigate the matter.
” Let them see whether his income matches the five million dollars paid as school fees for six years for four children. This is without tickets.
“He does not need to be sacked. Let him come and clear that he has not compromised his positions in government at the cost of Nigerians,” he said.
Highlighting the contrast with ordinary Nigerians, Dangote noted that many parents struggle to pay even ₦100,000 for secondary school fees.
“From where he comes from, people are struggling to pay ₦100,000 for secondary school fees. Many children are at home because their parents cannot afford that amount.
“I cannot understand why someone who has worked all his life in government would have four children whose secondary school fees alone cost five million dollars,” he said.
Dangote also warned that he would take legal action to verify the payments if Ahmed denies the claim.
“If he denies it, I will not only publish what he paid as tuition in those secondary schools, but I will also sue the schools to disclose how much he paid for the entire period.
“He should tell Nigerians which universities they attended and how much was paid there. People who have done something wrong must be prosecuted,” he said.
As of the time of filing this report, Farouk Ahmed has not responded to the allegations.
KanyiDaily recalls that Aliko Dangote recently unveiled a N100 billion yearly education support programme aimed at helping Nigerian students.
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