President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has approved the appointment of Dalhatu Abubakar as the new chairman of the Nigeria Commodity Exchange (NCX), alongside the inauguration of a fresh governing board for the institution.
The appointments, which take immediate effect, are part of the federal government’s push to strengthen Nigeria’s commodity trading system and boost earnings from non-oil exports.
In a statement released on Thursday, the presidency said the restructuring of the NCX board aligns with the administration’s economic agenda focused on improving food security, enhancing market efficiency, and expanding export opportunities.
The newly constituted board includes Najah Muhammed, Bamidele Hussein, Mezuo Nwuneli, Obi Igwe, and Foluso Ayo-Olaiya as non-executive directors, while Anthony Atuche will serve as the managing director.
According to the presidency, the reconstituted board is expected to provide strategic direction that will help fully activate the exchange and attract investment into critical areas such as commodity warehousing, logistics, and trade infrastructure.
Officials also noted that the NCX remains a key platform for promoting structured commodity markets, encouraging private sector participation, and improving transparency in agricultural trade. These reforms, the government says, will help stabilise markets, improve product traceability, and position Nigeria more competitively in regional and global value chains.
Abubakar, who hails from Kano State, is the chairman of Al-Hamsad Integrated Rice Mills and currently serves as President of the Conference of Northern States Chambers of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture. He previously led the Kano Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture and is widely known for his role in promoting agribusiness and mentoring entrepreneurs in northern Nigeria.
