Senate Confirms Bilqis Jumoke Sanni As Executive Director of NCDC

The Nigerian Senate has confirmed Bilqis Jumoke Sanni Alasonla (PS Rtd) as the Executive Director, the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

She’s confirmed alongside other nominees appointed by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to constitute the commission’s governing council.

The confirmation took place during Thursday’s plenary session, following the presentation of the report by the Senate Committee on the North Central Development Commission, chaired by Senator Titus Zam (APC, Benue North-West).

The session was presided by Deputy Senate President Barau Jubril. Afterwards, Senate President Godswill Akpabio conducted a voice vote that saw the nominees approved unanimously by the upper chamber.

In addition to Hajia Sanni, the Senate confirmed Cosmas Akyhir from Benue State as Chairman and Tsenyil Yilten from Plateau State as Managing Director of the commission.

Other Executive Directors confirmed include James Abel Uloko (Benue), Princess Atika Ajanah (Projects, Kogi), Hajia Aishatu Rujui Ibrahim (Nasarawa), and Muhammad Bashar (Niger).

Also confirmed as members of the board are Dauda Shuaibu Kigbu (Nasarawa), Zakari Haliru Jikantoro (Niger), Alhaji Sulaiman Buka Ali (Kogi), Rev. Bunmi Olusona (Kwara), Dr. Umar Ibrahim Mantu (Plateau), Engr. Atotse Abraham (Benue), Solomon Adodo (FCT), Hon. Abdulkadir S. Usman (North-West), Engr. Habu Maman (North-East), Engr. Dr. Atinuke Owolabi (South-West), Rachael Kufre Nse (South-South), and Chief Boniface Izziogu (South-East).

The NCDC was recently established to address the infrastructural, economic, and social development challenges facing the North Central geopolitical zone, and to replicate successes recorded by other regional commissions.

In a brief remark after her confirmation, Bilqis Sanni expressed gratitude to President Tinubu and the Senate for the confidence reposed in her.

She also pledged to work diligently with other board members to actualize the commission’s mandate of transforming communities across the North Central zone.