BREAKING: Buhari Reshuffles NDDC, Replaces Acting MD

President Muhammadu Buhari has announced the reshuffling of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

Buhari replaced the Acting Managing Director Barr. Joy Nunieh with Professor Kemebradikumo Pondei.

Also  the number of the committee was increased from three to five persons, including 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, a former Vice President with African Development Bank, (Member).

A statement issued by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, on Tuesday, gave no reason for the replacement of the Nunieh with Pondei.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the enlargement of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) from three to five.

“The five members of the committee are now: Professor Kemebradikumo Daniel Pondei, who is the Ag. Managing Director, replacing Barrister Joy Nunieh; 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, a former Vice President with African Development Bank, (Member).

“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.

“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 said.

It would be recalled that President Buhari, on January 28, 2019, had stepped down a list of board members for the Commission, which had been earlier screened by the Senate, informing that he wanted to reconstitute the board.

Also, the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio, on October 30, 2019, announced the inauguration of the three-man Interim Management Committee, headed then by Barr Joy Nunieh.