President Bola Tinubu has appointed chairmen and managing directors for three newly established regional development commissions, marking a significant step towards addressing infrastructural and economic challenges across Nigeria’s geopolitical zones.
The appointees, announced in a letter to the Senate for confirmation on Wednesday, include Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi for the South West Development Commission (SWDC), Usoro Offiong Akpabio for the South-South Development Commission (SSDC), and Cosmas Akyir for the North Central Development Commission (NCDC).
In a statement obtained by Gistcore media, the President’s communication to the Senate outlined the nomination of 19 persons for the NCDC, with Cosmas Akyir as chairman and Cyril Yeltsin as managing director. The SWDC has 18 appointees, led by Senator Olubunmi Adetunbi as chairman and Charles Akindiji Akinola as managing director. The SSDC also comprises 18 appointees, with Chibudom Nwuche as chairman and Usoro Offiong Akpabio as managing director.
The establishment of these commissions, signed into law earlier this year, aims to foster regional development through targeted infrastructure projects, economic empowerment, and social welfare initiatives. The SWDC, with a budget of N498.40 billion, is tasked with advancing development in Lagos, Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Osun, and Ekiti states. It has already prioritized railway development, with Adejoke Adebayo-Chukwumah, a South-West director, engaging the Nigerian Railway Corporation to optimize transport infrastructure.
The SSDC, covering Akwa Ibom, Bayelsa, Cross River, Delta, Edo, and Rivers states, seeks to address environmental and economic challenges in the oil-rich region. Meanwhile, the NCDC will focus on the developmental needs of the North Central zone, though specific projects remain undisclosed.
Analysts view the appointments as a strategic move to decentralize development efforts, but some Nigerians have raised concerns about the transparency of the selection process and the qualifications of appointees. Posts on X reflect mixed sentiments, with some users praising the inclusion of experienced figures like Adetunbi, a former senator, while others question the lack of detailed public profiles for appointees like Akyir.
Seye Oyeleye, Director-General of the Development Agenda for Western Nigeria (DAWN) Commission, urged the SWDC to collaborate with state governors and leverage existing frameworks to avoid redundancy. “The commission must focus on high-impact projects that transform the region,” Oyeleye told Gistcore media in a recent interview.
The Senate is expected to screen the nominees in the coming weeks, with deliberations likely to scrutinize the appointees’ track records and the commissions’ proposed agendas. As Nigeria grapples with economic challenges, the success of these commissions will hinge on effective leadership and prudent resource management.
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