The National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) and the National Association of Polytechnic Students (NAPS) have cancelled their planned protests against the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) and its Chief Executive Officer, Farouk Ahmed.
Both student unions had earlier accused Ahmed of mismanagement of public funds, job racketeering, and abuse of office. They subsequently threatened to stage nationwide demonstrations to demand his resignation.
NANS initially scheduled its protest for June 4–5, with plans to picket the NMDPRA headquarters, while NAPS set its own demonstration for June 12, 2025.
However, in a joint statement issued on Friday, the associations rescinded their demands and announced the withdrawal of all protest actions.
Opeyemi Ajasa, NANS Public Relations Officer, apologised for the protest threats, stating that the allegations were based on unverified and incomplete information.
“We have discovered that the issues raised in our earlier correspondence are unfounded, misleading, and do not accurately reflect the true state of affairs within the agency,” the statement read.
Ajasa said NANS is now committed to building a collaborative relationship with the NMDPRA and its leadership to bridge the gap between the agency and Nigerian youths.
“We regret any harm our earlier stance may have caused. Dialogue and cooperation are key, and we are ready to work with the NMDPRA leadership to address concerns constructively and peacefully,” he added.
In a separate letter dated May 3, 2025, Comrade Eshiofune Paul Oghayan, president of NAPS, also confirmed the withdrawal of the union’s planned protest.
NAPS emphasized the importance of constructive dialogue and responsible engagement with the regulatory agency rather than confrontation.
The cancelled protests come amid broader changes in Nigeria’s oil and gas sector. On April 2, President Bola Tinubu reconstituted the board of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company (NNPC) Limited, appointing Bayo Ojulari as Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) and Ahmadu Musa Kida as non-executive chairman.
Additionally, Finance Minister Wale Edun announced on April 23 that a forensic audit of the NNPC was underway.
In May, the Concerned Lawyers and Civil Society in Defence of Public Trust, a civil society group, had also demanded Farouk Ahmed’s resignation from NMDPRA.
