Nation In Turmoil: CNPP and Civil Society Coalition to Expose Massive Fuel Quality Abuses as Former NMDPRA Chief Resigns
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The resignation of Engr. Farouk Ahmed, the former Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, has sparked a firestorm of controversy as the Conference of Nigeria Political Parties and the Coalition of National Civil Society Organisations demand an immediate and full-scale independent investigation into his tenure.
In a strongly worded joint statement, these organizations have made it clear that the departure of the NMDPRA boss will not be accepted as a conclusion to the brewing scandal surrounding regulatory failures and the importation of substandard fuel into the country.
The CNPP and over 75 civil society groups under the CNCSOs umbrella are insisting that this transition must instead serve as a catalyst for a comprehensive forensic probe into the operations, decisions, and enforcement failures that occurred under the Authority’s watch, particularly regarding the quality of refined petroleum products dispensed to the Nigerian public.
Central to the grievances raised by the coalition is the persistent circulation of substandard Premium Motor Spirit and diesel, which continues to be sold to motorists despite the existence of the ECOWAS Directive C/DIR.1/9/2020 on Harmonised Specifications for Motor Fuels.
This directive, which became effective across the ECOWAS region on January 1, 2021, mandates specific quality standards that Nigeria is legally bound to uphold as a leading member state.
However, the CNPP and CNCSOs allege that evidence points to a blatant disregard for these regulations and a level of regulatory negligence that has put the nation at risk.
The statement, signed by Comrade James Ezema, the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the CNPP, and Alhaji Ali Abacha, the National Secretary of the CNCSOs, highlights a disturbing pattern of non-compliance that has persisted long after the harmonized standards were meant to be enforced.
The coalition’s intelligence network has reportedly gathered information suggesting that high levels of compromise within the NMDPRA during Engr. Farouk Ahmed’s leadership allowed for the continued importation and distribution of low-quality fuels.
The Coalition blamed the substandard products, which fall well below the agreed ECOWAS standards, for widespread damage to vehicle engines, a significant increase in maintenance costs for citizens, and heightened environmental pollution.
The groups characterize this failure not merely as a technical lapse but as a direct economic and public safety assault on millions of Nigerians who rely on these fuels daily.
The gravity of these allegations suggests a systemic breakdown in the regulatory framework designed to protect consumers and the national economy.
Furthermore, the CNPP and CNCSOs have turned their attention toward the National Assembly, specifically the committees charged with the oversight of midstream and downstream petroleum regulators.
The organizations are calling for a thorough investigation into the integrity of the legislative oversight exercised during this period, seeking to determine if there was negligence or even complicity through action or omission by the lawmakers.
The coalition argues that the failure to prevent the influx of substandard fuel reflects poorly on the checks and balances intended to hold the NMDPRA accountable.
They have served formal notice that their Joint Intelligence Committee will soon unveil detailed findings at a full-scale press conference in Abuja, which they promise will expose regulatory lapses, flawed import approval processes, and the depth of the oversight failures that have led to this national scandal.
Their demands for accountability are fourfold and uncompromising. First, the groups are calling for a full-scale independent probe into the regulatory activities of the NMDPRA under its former chief, focusing specifically on adherence to the ECOWAS fuel specification directives. Second, they require a comprehensive investigation into the quality of all petrol and diesel imported and dispensed in Nigeria from the start of 2021 to the present, which must include a verification of laboratory certifications and enforcement records.
Third, they are pushing for a forensic probe into the roles of relevant National Assembly committees to establish their level of diligence or failure in permitting substandard products to enter the market. Finally, the coalition demands the public disclosure of all findings and the subsequent prosecution of any individuals or institutions found to be culpable, regardless of their political influence or social standing.
In their concluding warning, the CNPP and CNCSOs emphasized that fuel quality violations represent more than minor infractions, categorizing them as economic crimes and serious threats to public safety.
They have vowed to firmly resist any attempt by the authorities to sweep these issues under the carpet or to treat the recent leadership change at the NMDPRA as a formal closure of the matter.
The coalition maintains that Nigerians are entitled to transparent regulation, accountable governance, and fuel that meets international safety standards. They assert that anything less than a total and transparent investigation would constitute an unacceptable betrayal of the public trust and a failure of the state to protect its citizens from harmful commercial interests.
