President Tinubu has reversesd appointment at HYPPADEC and announced new leadership changes.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that President Bola Tinubu has revoked the appointment of Oluwa Somefun as Managing Director of the National Hydro-Electric Power Producing Areas Development Commission (HYPPADEC), reinstating Abubakar Sadiq Yelwa as the substantive head of the commission.
Yelwa, who previously served as Managing Director/CEO, has been returned to the role to continue spearheading critical projects on infrastructure, community development, and interventions for host communities impacted by hydroelectric operations.
The reinstatement signals a course correction in the commission’s leadership, with Yelwa once again placed at the center of delivering on its mandate.
New PENCOM Chairman
In another development, President Tinubu has approved the appointment of Opeyemi Agbaje, a renowned policy analyst and writer, as the new Chairman of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
Agbaje confirmed the appointment on Saturday, noting that he received official communication from the Presidency earlier in the week.
Confusion Over NTA Leadership Shake-Up
Meanwhile, uncertainty looms at the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) following widespread reports of a major leadership overhaul at the state-owned broadcaster.
Media outlets on Friday claimed President Tinubu had appointed Rotimi Pedro, a Lagos-based sports and entertainment executive, as the new Director-General of NTA. The reports also listed additional appointments:
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Karimah Bello (Katsina) – Executive Director of Marketing
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Stella Din (Plateau) – Executive Director of News
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Sophia Issa Mohammed (Adamawa) – Managing Director, NTA Enterprises Ltd.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the alleged shake-up was presented as part of a broader plan to reposition NTA for competitiveness in Nigeria’s dynamic media space.
However, no official confirmation has been issued by the Presidency. Salihu Dembos, reappointed in 2023, is still regarded as the serving DG of NTA. He and top management staff are currently on a citizens’ engagement tour of Enugu and Ebonyi States, led by Information Minister Mohammed Idris.
Neither Idris nor presidential spokesperson Bayo Onanuga who typically confirms such appointments has validated the reports, fueling speculation that influential aides may be driving the Pedro-led shake-up behind the scenes.
Pedro, a lawyer and founder of Optima Sports Management International (OSMI), is well-known in the sports and entertainment industry, having brokered global broadcast rights for the English Premier League, UEFA Champions League, FIFA World Cup, and CAF tournaments across Africa.