.Appoints new chairman, National Hajj Commission, new management team for NDPHC

President Tinubu departed Abuja Monday for Paris, using the new Airbus A330, which replaced the 19-year-old Boeing B737-700(BBJ) bought under the Presidency of President Olusegun Obasanjo.

The new plane, bought far below the market price, saves Nigeria huge maintenance and fuel costs, running into millions of dollars yearly.

The recommendation to replace the B737-700(BBJ) followed an investigative hearing by Nigeria’s parliament that questioned the plane’s safety record and cost efficiency, especially after it malfunctioned during a trip to Saudi Arabia.

The Nigerian Senate’s security and intelligence committee recommended replacing the ageing aircraft in the presidential fleet to reduce downtime and operational expenses.

In another development, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Professor Abdullahi Saleh Usman as the Executive Chairman of the National Hajj Commission of Nigeria (NAHCON).

Professor Usman is a renowned scholar with qualifications from two Islamic centres of excellence – the University of Madinah and Peshawar University, Pakistan.

He is also well-grounded in Hajj operations, having served as the Chairman of Kano State Pilgrims Board, and successfully superintended the operations of the largest quota of state pilgrims in the country.

The appointment is subject to confirmation by the Senate.

The President expects the new Chairman of NAHCON to discharge his duties with integrity, transparency, and utmost fidelity to the nation.

Meanwhile, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of a new management team for the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC).

The new members of the management of the company are as follows: (1) Engineer Jennifer Adighije -Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer; (2) Engineer Abdullahi Kassim – Executive Director (Generation); (3) Engineer Bello Babayo Bello – Executive Director (Networks); (4) Mr. Emmmanuel Umeoji — Executive Director (Corporate Services); (5) Mr. Omololu Agoro – Executive Director (Finance & Accounts); (6) Engineer Omoregie Ogbeide-Ihama — Executive Director (Strategy & Commercial); and (7) Barrister Steven Andzenge – Executive Director (Legal Services).

The new NDPHC Chief Executive Officer, Ms. Jennifer Adighije, is an experienced engineer with vast competencies across management functions in the private and public sectors.

She holds a master’s degree in Wireless Networks & Telecommunications from Queen Mary University of London, UK, and a bachelor’s degree in Electrical/Electronics Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria.

The President expects the new members of the management of the company to deploy their expertise and experience to drive NDPHC’s mandate of effectively managing the National Integrated Power Projects (NIPP).

Culled from Daily Times Nigeria