Fresh allegations circulating on social media have placed the Authority Chief Executive of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority, Engr. Farouk Ahmed, at the centre of a growing controversy over the cost of his children’s education abroad.
The claims, presented in a widely shared graphic, allege that Ahmed spent more than five million dollars on the foreign secondary and tertiary education of his four children, mostly in Switzerland. The document lists prestigious schools, long study periods, and estimated expenses covering tuition, living costs, travel, and upkeep.
According to the claims made by Aliko Dangote, the children attended Montreux School, Aiglon College, Institut Le Rosey, and La Garenne International School, each for about six years. The estimated annual cost per child for tuition, air travel, and upkeep is put at about two hundred thousand dollars, bringing the total secondary education bill to roughly five million dollars for all four children.
The document further alleges additional spending on tertiary education, including an MBA programme completed in 2025 by one of Ahmed’s children at Harvard University, with costs estimated at over two hundred thousand dollars for tuition and related expenses.
While no official documents or financial records have been publicly presented to support the figures, the allegations have triggered sharp reactions online, especially given Ahmed’s position as a senior public official. Critics argue that Nigerians deserve clear explanations on the source of such funds, particularly at a time when many families struggle to pay basic school fees.
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The graphic concludes with a call for transparency and accountability, framing the issue as a matter of public interest rather than personal choice. However, it remains unclear who authored the document or on what basis the calculations were made.
As of the time of filing this report, Engr. Farouk Ahmed has not publicly responded to the allegations. There has also been no official statement from the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority addressing the claims.
Observers note that while public officials are entitled to private lives, allegations of this scale demand careful scrutiny, verification, and a fair hearing. Until concrete evidence emerges or an official response is issued, the claims remain allegations circulating in the public space.
