Buhari disengages NDDC sole administrator, approves constitution of new board

President Muhamadu Buhari has sacked Effiong Akwa, the sole administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC). 

In a statement on Thursday by Patricia Deworitshe, director of press, ministry of Niger Delta Affairs, the president also announced the constitution of a new management team and governing board of the NDDC. 

In December 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari removed Kemebradikumo Pondei as acting managing director of the NDDC — appointing Akwa as the head of the agency. 

According to the statement, the names of the new management team and governing board will be transmitted to the national assembly for approval.

“President Muhammadu Buhari has approved the disengagement of the Interim Administrator of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), Mr Effiong Okon Akwa, from his post with effect from today, 20 October 2022,” the statement reads. 

“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 5(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.”

Stakeholders in the Niger Delta have urged the president to constitute a substantive board and management of the commission in compliance with the law.