Business

The President of the Dangote Group, Alhaji Aliko Dangote, on Sunday alleged that the Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Farouk Ahmed, spent about $5m on the secondary school education of his four children in Switzerland, urging a comprehensive investigation and public clarification.

Dangote said Ahmed should appear before the Code of Conduct Tribunal to explain to Nigerians how he allegedly funded $5m in school fees for his children, accusing him of engaging in economic sabotage.

Our correspondent reports that the NMDPRA had previously dismissed a similar claim in July, when a group staged a protest and alleged that Ahmed spent over $5.5m on the overseas education of his four children, arguing that the figure was inconsistent with the income of a public servant.

At the time, the NMDPRA rejected the allegations, describing them as a coordinated smear campaign founded on false claims against Ahmed and the agency’s leadership.

Reiterating the allegation during a press briefing at the Dangote Petroleum Refinery in Lekki, Lagos, Dangote spoke at length about what he termed regulatory lapses and alleged corruption within the downstream petroleum sector.

While noting that he was relaying concerns brought to his attention, Dangote insisted that failure to address the issue would continue to erode public confidence and discourage investment.

He said, “I’ve actually had people making complaints about a regulator who has actually put his children in secondary school.

“And that secondary school education, which is six years, four of them cost Nigeria $5m. I mean, you cannot imagine somebody paying $5m for educating four children.”

Dangote said such spending could not easily be justified by earnings from public office, noting that it would ordinarily trigger scrutiny from tax authorities.

“When you look at his income, his income does not match paying this kind of fee. And even if it’s me paying $5m for six years for my four children, the taxman has to look at my taxes and how much I pay,” he stated.

The business mogul said he was deeply concerned about the contrast between the alleged expenditure and the financial hardship faced by many Nigerians.

“From Sokoto, where he comes from, people are struggling to pay N100,000 for school fees. A lot of children are at home, not going to school, because of N100,000. I cannot understand why somebody who has worked all his life in government, and he has four children whose school fees he has paid $5m for,” he added.

Dangote emphasised that his own children did not attend secondary schools abroad, saying, “Even my own children, they didn’t go to those schools. My children went to a Nigerian secondary school. They didn’t go outside Nigeria to attend secondary school.

“I am not calling for his removal, but for a proper investigation. He should be required to account for his actions and demonstrate that he has not compromised his position to the detriment of Nigerians. What is happening amounts to economic sabotage.

“The Code of Conduct Bureau, or any other body deemed appropriate by the government, can investigate the matter. If he denies it, I will not only publish what he paid as tuition in those secondary schools, but I will also take legal steps to compel the schools to disclose the payments made by Farouk.”

He described the downstream petroleum sector as being under intense pressure, alleging that entrenched interests continue to profit from fuel imports at the expense of national growth.

“There are powerful interests in the oil sector. It is troubling that African countries continue to import refined products despite long-standing calls for value addition and domestic refining. The volume of imports being allowed into the country is unethical and does a disservice to Nigeria,” he added.

Dangote stressed the importance of maintaining a clear boundary between regulation and commercial activity, warning that allowing traders to influence regulators would weaken the sector.

“The downstream sector must not be destroyed by personal interests. A trader should never be a regulator. 47 licences have been issued, yet no new refineries are being built because the environment is not conducive,” he said.

He maintained that Nigerians would ultimately benefit from local refining, even if fuel importers incur losses, adding that he remained committed to ensuring Nigerians enjoy the gains of domestic production. He noted that the company was working nonstop to ensure recent reductions in gantry prices are fully reflected at filling stations.

When contacted for comment, the spokesperson of the NMDPRA, George Ene-Ita, said, “For now, no comment.”