Yar’Adua nominates Shonekan to head ICRC board

Yar’Adua nominates Shonekan to head ICRC board
By Ihuoma Chiedozie, Abuja
Friday, 8 Aug 2008

President Umaru Yar’Adua on Thursday nominated former Head of State, Chief Ernest Shonekan, as the Chairman of the Board of the Infrastructure Concession Regulatory Commission.
Shonekan’s nomination was announced in a statement by the Special Adviser to the President on Communications, Mr. Olusegun Adeniyi.
The statement explained that the President was urging the Senate to “expeditiously consider and confirm” Shonekan’s nomination as the head of the commission.
The commission is expected to spearhead efforts to involve the private sector in the provision of public infrastructure, particularly roads.
The board will consider and ratify pending concession proposals.
Seven others nominated by the President as members of the board include Hakeem Sanusi (South-West), Mansur Ahmed (North-West), Bernard Verr (North-Central), Clement Owunna (South-East), Comfort Saro-Wiwa (South-South), Joe Kyari-Gadzama (North-East) and Aisha Sheikh (North-West).
The statement further explained, “The establishment of the commission is expected to give greater practical effect to the Yar’Adua administration’s efforts to involve the private sector in the development of roads and other critical national infrastructure.
The statement read, “Upon the confirmation of Shonekan as chairman, and seven others as members, the board will go into immediate action to consider and ratify concession proposals already awaiting its attention in vital sectors of the national economy as a result of the Federal Government’s action to attract more private investors to the rehabilitation and expansion of infrastructure across the country”.
Also on Thursday, in a separate letter to the President of the Senate, Yar’Adua similarly requested the Senate to consider and confirm the nomination of Aliyu Yelwa as Chairman of the Fiscal Responsibility Commission.
Others nominated by the President as members of the commission include Messrs Debo Adesina (Civil Society), Suleman Abubakar (Organised Private Sector), Mohammed Z. Sada (Organised Private Sector), Yau Gimba (North-East) and Sylvanus E. Mordi (South-South).
Also nominated are Mr. Adewunmi Abitoye (South-West), Shuaibu Abdullahi Kore (North-Central), Benson Upah (Organised Labour) and Chris A. Okewulono (South-East).