The House of Representatives Joint Committee on Petroleum Resources (Downstream and Midstream) has officially intervened in the escalating dispute between Alhaji Aliko Dangote, President of the Dangote Group, and Mr. Farouk Ahmed, the Chief Executive Officer of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA). This intervention follows a period of rising public attacks and counter-allegations that threatened the fragile stability recently achieved in Nigeria's downstream petroleum sector.

Led jointly by Hon. Ikenga Imo Ugochinyere and Hon. Henry Okogie, the committee convened an emergency meeting on Monday to address the growing tensions. Both Dangote and Ahmed have been summoned to appear before the legislative body, with a stern directive to suspend all further public and media hostilities pending a thorough legislative investigation. Chairman Ikenga Ugochinyere emphasized that the committee’s decision was driven by the urgent need to prevent further escalation at a critical time when stakeholders are working to stabilize supply, pricing, and regulation in the post-subsidy era.

The genesis of the renewed feud stems from recent accusations made by Aliko Dangote against Farouk Ahmed. On Sunday, Dangote publicly accused Ahmed of economic sabotage, specifically claiming that the NMDPRA CEO had paid $5 million (over N7 billion) in tuition fees for his children at a Swiss school, encouraging fuel importers. However, these allegations have been met with skepticism and strong condemnation from other industry players.

The Petroleum Products Retail Outlets Owners Association of Nigeria (PETROAN), through its National President, Billy Gillis-Harry, described Dangote’s accusations as a form of blackmail intended to facilitate a takeover of the country’s downstream oil sector. Gillis-Harry dismissed Dangote's claims as