President Muhammadu Buhari has announced changes in the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) as he replaced Barr Joy Nunieh with Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei, as Acting Managing Director.
Apart from the sack and replacement of the Acting Managing Director, the President also appointed two new committee members which include; Mrs Caroline Nagbo as Member and Cecilia Bukola Akintomide, OON, a former Vice President with African Development Bank, also as a Member.
The five members of the enlarged committee are Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei who is the Acting Managing Director, Dr Cairo Ojougboh (Ag. Executive Director Projects), Mr Ibanga Bassey Etang (Ag. Executive Director Finance and Administration), Mrs Caroline Nagbo (Member) and Cecilia Bukola Akintomide, OON, former Vice President with African Development Bank (Member)
The changes were made known in a statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina.
“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the enlargement of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from three to five. Prof K.D Pondei, the new Ag. Managing Director is a Professor of Medicine at the Niger Delta University, and former Provost, College of Health Sciences of the institution.
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“President Buhari had earlier approved that the Interim Management Committee would be in place till the forensic audit of the NDDC was concluded”, the statement read in part.
Although the statement released gave no reason to why Nunieh was replaced with Pondei, President Buhari had hinted on reconstituting the NDDC board in January 2019 when he handed down a list of board members for the commission screened by the Senate.
List of other board members replaced includes Dr Pius Odubu from Edo State as Chairman; Chief Bernard Okumagba from Delta as Managing Director; Engr Otobong Ndem (Akwa-Ibom), Executive Director (Projects); and Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director, Finance and Administration.
What you should know: Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei is a Professor of Medicine at the Niger Delta University, and former Provost, College of Health Sciences of the institution. Buhari had earlier approved that the Interim Management Committee would be in place till the forensic audit of the NDDC was concluded.
