The Senate has confirmed the nomination of the Special Assistant to the President on New Media, Lauretta Onochie, for appointment as Chairman of the Board of the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC).

The Senate also approved the nomination of Dr. Samuel Ogbuku for appointment as Managing Director of the regional intervention agency “for a term of two years to complete the unexpired term of his predecessor in office”.

Also confirmed for appointment are: General Charles Ehigie Airhiavbere (retd.) as Executive Director of Finance and Mr. Charles Ogunmola as Executive Director Projects (Southwest) in the NDDC board.

The Upper Chamber also confirmed Dimgba Eruba as member from Abia State representing the Southeast), Dr. Emem Wilcox Wills (Akwa Ibom, State Representative, Southsouth), Elder Dimaro Denyanbofa (Bayelsa State), Orok Duke (Cross River) and Gbenga Odegba (Ondo, Southwest).

Others are: Mr. Onyekachi Dimgba (Rivers, Southsouth), Alhaji Mohammed Kabir Abubakar (Zonal Representative, Nasarawa), Professor Tahir Mamma, SAN, (Northeast Representative, Adamawa) and Alhaji Sule-Iko Sadeeq Sani (Northwest, Zonal Representative).

The confirmation of the nominees followed the consistency of the report of the Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs presented by its acting Chairman, Bulus Amos (APC Gombe South).

But the Upper Chamber stepped down the nomination of a former deputy governor of Edo State, Dr. Pius Odubu (Edo, Southsouth), Anthony Okanne (Imo, Southeast) for appointment as members of the board for their failure to appear before the screening panel.

The Senate discountenanced the objection raised by Senator Seriake Dickson that Onochie is allegedly not from an oil producing community in Delta State.