President Muhammadu Buhari has ordered immediate removal of Dr. Pius Odubu as chairman of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The President also validated the existence of the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of the commission led by Dr Joi Nunieh.

This was contained in a statement on Thursday morning by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the President, Mr. Femi Adesina.

According to the statement, the supervisory power over the commission would continue rest with the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs.

The President also informed that the IMC of the commission would function until the forensic audit of the accounts and activities of the commission, which he ordered earlier in the year, is completed.

The statement reads: “President Muhammadu Buhari has approved that the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC) be recomposed and inaugurated after the forensic audit of the organisation.

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“The President has also directed that the Interim Management Team of the NDDC shall be in place till the forensic is completed, and that the supervision of the Commission shall remain under the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs."

It was learnt that the Board, which was screened by the Senate on October 30, 2019, has not been inaugurated by the President, a situation that has raised a lot of dust from many stakeholders and groups in the Niger Delta region.

NDDC Board has Dr Pius Odubu, from Edo State as Chairman; Chief Bernard Okumagba from Delta State as Managing Director; Mr Maxwell Omo from Bayelsa State as Executive Director, Finance and Administration; and Engr. Otobong Ndem as Executive Director, Projects.