The Senate on Wednesday, June 18, 2025, screened key nominees for the leadership of the newly established South South Development Commission (SSDC), with Rt. Hon. Chibudom Nwuche (Rivers State) nominated as Chairman and Usoro Offiong Akpabio (Akwa Ibom State) as Managing Director.
Also screened were nominees for Executive Director positions:
Marcus Nie Eji (Projects – Rivers State)
Aganaba Preye Steven (Social & Human Capital Development – Bayelsa State)
Dr. Timi Alari Ayibatonye (Corporate Services – Delta State)
Joseph Ugheoke (Commercial & Environmental Development – Edo State)
Amb. Sony Abang (Finance – Cross River State)
Other board nominees included: Larry Odey (Cross River), Charles Zuofa (Bayelsa), Dr. Nkereuwem Ebong (Akwa Ibom), Chika Chinedu (Rivers), Femi Oise (Edo), Dr. Charles Sylvester Enukhowhate (Delta), Tijani Yahaya Kaura (North-West), Tabitha Iliya Sallah (North-East), Alh. Yusuf Rasaq Amao (North-Central), Joseph Mmama (South-East), and Bukunola Braimoh (South-West).
Usoro Akpabio, nominated in May 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, is an accomplished energy and public sector executive with over 17 years of experience in oil and gas trading, regulatory affairs, stakeholder engagement, and cross-border energy negotiations. She previously served as Group General Manager at Century Energy Group and played a key role in aligning refinery operations with legislative and policy frameworks.
Chairman of the Senate Committee on SSDC, Senator Benson Kombowei, urged the nominees to deliver impactful projects that will combat economic sabotage, environmental degradation, and infrastructural decay in the Niger Delta.
