By Tambaya Julius, Abuja
In a significant step to enhance institutional governance and drive sectoral progress, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved a series of federal appointments, introducing new leadership to several strategic agencies across Nigeria. Among the appointees is Dr. Abdulmumini Mohammed Aminu-Zaria from Kaduna State as the Executive Director of the Nigerian Integrated Water Resources Management Commission (NIWRMC).
The development was disclosed through an official statement issued by Bayo Onanuga, the presidential spokesperson, on Friday.
Dr Aminu-Zaria’s appointment is one of eight high-level appointments made simultaneously, reflecting Tinubu’s intent to empower competent individuals to take charge of pivotal agencies.
Among the newly appointed figures is Muhammad Babangida, the son of Nigeria’s former military leader Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB). He has been named Chairman of the Bank of Agriculture (BoA), a financial institution that has recently undergone major structural reforms to support Nigeria’s agricultural transformation agenda.
The state of Kaduna features prominently in the recent reshuffle, with Lydia Kalat Musa appointed as the Chairman of the Oil and Gas Free Zone Authority (OGFZA).
Kano State also had a notable presence in the appointments. Jamilu Wada Aliyu now Chairman of the National Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC), an agency central to curriculum development and education reform. Also from Kano, Hon. Yahuza Ado Inuwa was appointed Chairman of the Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON) a key agency responsible for enforcing standards and ensuring quality across Nigeria’s products and services. Additionally, Sanusi Musa (SAN), another Kano indigene, has been appointed Chairman of the Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution (IPCR), a body dedicated to addressing internal conflict through policy research and strategic interventions.
In furthering Nigeria’s technical diplomacy on the African continent, President Tinubu also appointed Prof. Al-Mustapha Alhaji Aliyu from Sokoto State as Director-General of the Directorate of Technical Cooperation in Africa (DTCA). Sanusi Garba Rikiji from Zamfara State has also been named Director-General of the Nigerian Office for Trade Negotiations (NOTN).
Mrs Tomi Somefun, a seasoned banking professional from Oyo State, has been entrusted with the position of Managing Director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC). Her role will involve overseeing developmental initiatives in hydroelectric power host communities, addressing ecological challenges, and driving infrastructural growth in affected areas.
Observers have praised the move as a step toward institutional revitalisation. “This is not just about appointments; it’s about building functional agencies that deliver results,” said a senior policy analyst based in Abuja. “Tinubu’s picks suggest a desire to inject fresh expertise into bureaucracies that have long required reform.”
