President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dalhatu Abubakar as chairman of the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), alongside a newly constituted governing board.
The appointments take immediate effect and form part of the federal government’s push to strengthen Nigeria’s commodity trading system and boost non-oil exports.
In a statement released on Thursday, the presidency said the reconstitution of the NCX board aligns with the administration’s renewed hope agenda, which focuses on food security, market efficiency, and export growth.
The statement noted that the appointments are intended to reinforce Nigeria’s commodity trading framework, improve price discovery, promote transparency, and support the expansion of non-oil exports.
The newly appointed board members include Najah Muhammed, Bamidele Hussein, Mezuo Nwuneli, Obi Igwe, and Foluso Ayo-Olaiya as non-executive directors, while Anthony Atuche will serve as managing director.
According to the presidency, the restructured board is expected to provide strategic direction to fully activate the exchange, strengthen accountability, and attract investment into areas such as warehousing, logistics, and trade infrastructure.
It added that the NCX remains a vital institution in achieving the government’s goals of food security and export diversification through structured commodity markets and increased private sector involvement.
The presidency further explained that the exchange will help formalise commodity trading, enhance traceability, stabilise markets, and improve Nigeria’s competitiveness in regional and global value chains.
Abubakar, a businessman from Kano State, currently chairs Al-Hamsad Integrated Rice Mills and serves as president of the Conference of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (CONSCCIMA).
He previously led the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KACCIMA) and is recognised for his contributions to agribusiness development and mentorship in northern Nigeria.