President Muhammadu Buhari has relieved Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa, the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), of his duties after serving in that capacity for nearly two years.
In addition, with presidential approval, the Commission’s most senior director, Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua, will serve as acting managing director until a substantive chief executive and members of the Governing Board are appointed.
Akwa was appointed on December 12, 2020, following the removal of Prof. Kemebradikumo Pondei, the interventionist agency’s then-acting managing director.
This was revealed in a statement issued yesterday in Abuja by Patricia Deworitshe, Director, Press and Public Relations in the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs (MNDA), which oversees the NDDC.
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The statement titled: “NDDC Sole Administrator Relieved of Appointment,” stated that the president approved Akwa’s immediate disengagement.
“The statement read: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the disengagement of the Interim Administrator of the NDDC, Mr. Effiong Okon Akwa, from his post with effect from today, 20, October 2022. Mr. Akwa was appointed interim administrator of the Commission for the duration of the Forensic Audit into the operations of the NDDC, which has now been concluded.
“President Buhari has also approved the constitution of a new Management Team and Governing Board of the NDDC in line with Section (2) of the NDDC Act, 2000.
“The names of the nominees for the new management team and Governing Board are to be transmitted to the National Assembly for approval.”
The Senate had in November 2019 confirmed the nominees for the NDDC board with Dr. Pius Odubu as chairman; Bernard Okumagba (Delta) as managing Director; Otobong Ndem (Akwa Ibom), Executive Director of Projects; Maxwell Oko (Bayelsa), Executive Director of Finance and Administration; Jones Erue (Delta); Victor Ekhator (Edo); Nwogu N. Nwogu (Abia) and Theodore Allison (Bayelsa).
Others were Victor Antai (Akwa Ibom), Maurice Effiwat (Cross River), Olugbenga Edema (Ondo), Uchegbu Kyrian (Imo), Aisha Muhammed (North West); Shuaibu Zubairu (North East) and Abdullahu Bage (North Central).
The immediate-past Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, Senator Godswill Akpabio had repeatedly assured that the already confirmed board of the agency would be inaugurated as soon as the Forensic Audit report was submitted.
The audit report was submitted in August 2021.
Meanwhile, a separate statement issued by the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs announced the appointment of Audu-Ohwavborua, an engineer as the NDDC acting managing director.
The statement explained: “Sequel to President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of the disengagement of the Interim Administrator of the NDDC from his position, the president has further approved that the most senior director in the Commission should take over the running of the affairs of the Commission in line with the Federal Government Circular dated 4th December 2017, with Ref. No. 50/S./C.2/268, pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director and members of the Governing Board.
“Accordingly, Engr Emmanuel Audu-Ohwavborua (FNSE) will perform the duties of the Managing Director in acting capacity pending the appointment of a substantive Managing Director and members of the Governing Board.”
