NMDPRA Insists Its Financials Undergo Regular Auditors, Fiscal Regulators, NASS Scrutiny, Denies Wrongdoing
By Gift Eguavoen
The Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) has denied any wrongdoing and asserted that its financial operations undergo regular scrutiny by external and international auditors, Federal Government’s fiscal regulators, and the relevant committees of the National Assembly.
In a statement by the Public Affairs Department of the NMDPRA, the Authority which dismissed allegation of corruption against its Chief Executive, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, by faceless groups, challenged the accusers to present verifiable documents to back up their claim.
Describing the campaign as frivolous, the NMDPRA maintained that the calls are devoid of any specific claims of wrongdoing, consisting only of declarations lacking substance or detail.
The statement read in part: “The Authority wishes to state unequivocally, and for the avoidance of doubt, that the allegations being peddled are false, without merit, and bereft of any factual foundation. The absence of specific claims or verifiable details is, in itself, a clear indication of their falsity and a strong signal that these efforts are not driven by any genuine concern for accountability.”
The agency added that as an institution anchored on the principles of transparency and accountability, its fiscal and financial activities are subjected to the highest levels of regulatory scrutiny, not only internally but also through periodic assessments by external auditors of international repute, as well as oversight from the Office of the Auditor-General for the Federation and the Office of the Accountant-General.
It further informed that the National Assembly, through its relevant committees, examines every aspect of the NMDPRA’s budgetary provisions and expenditure lines, adding that “under such a rigorous accountability framework, it is inconceivable that any credible allegation of misappropriation or abuse of office could escape detection, let alone persist without redress.”
The Authority stressed that it finds it curious that a group hitherto unknown to legal or civil society circles would suddenly emerge with expensively printed banners, professionally produced placards and instant access to the media, pointing out that the expensive venture the campaign of calumny has assumed shows that the resources are far from spontaneous in either cost or coordination.
“Such energy, if truly in service of the public interest, would have been better directed toward seeking clarifications through existing institutional channels,” the NMDPRA said, insisting that it welcomes demands for transparency and accountability, as provided for under the Freedom of Information Act.
“We remain open and willing to collaborate with any group that is genuinely committed to the public interest. If the organisers of these protests and publications were truly concerned about good governance, they would have approached the Authority through the established accountability mechanisms.
“Their choice to bypass these channels and stage public spectacle only reinforces what discerning members of the public already suspect. This is not a protest. It is a production, and the script appears to serve vested interests unsettled by the reforms being implemented in the midstream and downstream sectors of our petroleum industry,” the statement added.
The statement further highlighted that Ahmed’s leadership has prioritised efficiency, transparency and the full implementation of the Petroleum Industry Act (2021), which seeks to sanitise the sector and ensure the equitable distribution of petroleum products nationwide.
“The efforts of the Authority under his stewardship have enhanced operational stability, expanded access to regulated information and established a level playing field for all operators in the sector. These are moves that have inevitably unsettled those who profit from opacity and disorder, the NMDPRA said, while urging the public and all critical stakeholders in the oil and gas industry to disregard the ludicrous accusations.
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