President Bola Tinubu has dismissed the head of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA), Saidu Mohammed, amid mounting tensions over soaring aviation fuel prices and regulatory decisions in the downstream petroleum sector.

The Presidency announced that Mohammed’s exit was approved in the public interest and in line with the provisions of the Petroleum Industry Act. His replacement, Rabiu Abdullahi Umar, is awaiting confirmation by the Senate. Until then, the most senior official at the authority will oversee its operations in an acting capacity.

The leadership change comes as airlines under the Airline Operators of Nigeria warn they may suspend flights over what they describe as unbearable increases in the price of Jet A1 fuel. In a recent correspondence to fuel marketers, the group said aviation fuel prices had surged dramatically within weeks, rising far beyond what global crude oil price movements would justify.

Marketers under the Major Energies Marketers Association of Nigeria disputed the figures presented by the airlines and advised operators to source products from alternative suppliers if dissatisfied with prevailing rates.

Amid the disagreement, an internal regulatory advisory reportedly indicated that Jet A1 should retail within a moderated price band in Lagos and Abuja, well below the levels cited by airline operators.

Mohammed’s removal also follows a separate dispute involving the Dangote Petroleum Refinery. The refinery had accused the regulator of granting fuel import licences despite public claims that no such approvals had been issued this year. The matter sparked public exchanges between the regulator and Aliko Dangote, who questioned the rationale behind continued import approvals while local refining capacity was expanding.