A coalition of lawyers and civil society organizations (CSOs) on Monday staged a protest at the headquarters of the Nigerian Midstream and Downstream Petroleum Regulatory Authority (NMDPRA) in Abuja, demanding the immediate resignation of its Chief Executive Officer, Engineer Farouk Ahmed.

The protesters, operating under the umbrella of "Concerned Lawyers and Civil Society in Defence of Public Trust," accused Ahmed of abuse of office and power, calling for his immediate removal from the regulatory agency.

Led by Barrister Martins Adaji, the demonstrators presented a list of demands that went beyond Ahmed's resignation. They called for a comprehensive investigation into NMDPRA's financial records and Ahmed's prosecution under the Public Procurement Act and the Code of Conduct Bureau.

"This protest is about justice. It is about drawing the line in the sand and saying, 'No more abuse of public trust. No more luxury for the few while the many wallow in deprivation. No more wasting of public funds while Nigerian university students are stuck at home due to strikes, poor infrastructure and lack of funding,'" Adaji stated during the protest.

The coalition further demanded that any funds recovered from the proposed investigation should be directed toward rehabilitating schools in Nigeria's most disadvantaged oil-producing communities, linking their grievances to broader social justice concerns.

In a direct appeal to President Bola Tinubu, the protesters urged the administration to demonstrate its commitment to transparency and equity by taking decisive action on their demands.

The protesters warned of escalated actions if their demands are ignored. "Today's protest is not the end. If these demands are ignored, we will return stronger, louder, and more resolute. Nigerian youths, mothers, and civil society will occupy every relevant space to say: enough is enough," they declared.

"Let it be known, Engr. Farouk Ahmed must step down now. Not tomorrow. Not next week," the protesters emphasized, signaling their determination to pursue their cause until their demands are met.

As of press time, neither the NMDPRA nor Engineer Farouk Ahmed had issued an official response to the protesters' demands.