Buhari sacks NDDC MD, directors; appoints ex-Rivers commissioner, Semenitari as new boss

President Muhammadu Buhari, Monday, sacked the Board and management of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), including the Managing Director, Mr. Bassey Dan-Abia, and the two Executive Directors for Finance and Projects.

The President, in a statement by the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, also announced the appointment of the immediate past Rivers State Information commissioner, Mrs. Ibim Semenitari, as acting Managing Director, pending the appointment of a substantive board.

The removal of the board, it was learned, was done by the Presidency as a compromise position to appease the chairman and state coordinators of the agency, who were earlier removed from office in July this year.

The sacked board, led by its chairman, Senator Ewa Henshaw, it was learned, had challenged in court, their removal from office by the Presidency, while retaining the management led by Bassey Dan-Abia, arguing that it was in breach of the Act establishing the commission.

However, the sacked board members are said to have withdrawn their case against the Presidency when convinced that the management team led by Abia would soon be shown their way out.