President Goodluck Jonathan has nominated the current Chief Executive Officer of the Federal Road Safety Commission FRSC, Mr Ositadinma Benjamin Chidoka as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to represent Anambra in the Federal Executive council.
Dr. Suleiman Abubakar, a lecturer with the University of Abuja was also nominated for confirmation as minister. President Jonathan also wrote the senate seeking for the confirmation of Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amaju as the Director General of National Pension Commission PENCOM.
Corps Marshal Chidoka is from Anambra state and is expected to occupy the slot for the state which has remained vacant since the exit of the former Minister of Aviation, Princess Stella Oduah, while Dr. Abubakar from Kwara state replaces his kinsman, Malam Bolaji Abdulahi, former Minister of Sports who was recently relieved of his position by the president.
The 43-year-old took up the appointment at FRSC in June 2007 after the retirement of Major Gen (rtd) Halidu Hananiya. Until his appointment at Road Saftey, Chidoka was a Senior Advisor, Government and Business Relations, Mobil Producing Nigeria, a subsidiary of ExxonMobil Corporation.
Chidoka is most likely to replace former Minister of Aviation, Stella Oduah who resigned her position in February but the President is seeking the approval from the senate before which he will assign the nominee to manage the aviation Ministry, sources say.
A letter of his nomination has been sent to the Nigerian Senate and would be read on the floor of the Senate today. Abubakar Olanrewaju from Kwara state was also nominated and would replace former Sports minister, Bolaji Abdullahi, in the Federal Executive Council if confirmed by the senate.
In the FCT, Chidoka served in various capacities including actively participated in the review of the Abuja Masterplan.
In 1997, he was appointed Personal Assistant to the Minister of State for Works and Housing. In 2000 he became the Personal Assistant to the then Minister of Transport, Chief Ojo Maduekwe. It was in this capacity that he led the team that drafted a new Port Policy, which was subsequently adopted by the Federal Executive Council. This was no mean feat. He also served as Special Assistant to the Presidential Legal Adviser between 2003 and 2004.
Osita Chidoka facilitated the drafting of the Non-Motorised transport mode policy to provide infrastructure for safe bicycling, walking and other transport modes that are sustainable and environmentally friendly. Chidoka worked closely with Maduekwe in the Ministry of Transport whose tenure was marked by zero-tolerance to corruption and earned him commendation and confidence of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.
An indigene of Obosi in Idemili North Council Area of Anambra state, Chidoka is a 1995 graduate of Business Management of the University of Nigeria, Nsukka.
While at the University of Nigeria, Nsukka , He exhibited commendable leadership potentials as a student. He was a prominent students’ union activist and the traditional ruler of Kenneth Dike Hall, famous for the reasoned, factual and forceful way he presents his opinions
He obtained a Masters degree in Transport Policy and Logistics from the School of Public Policy of the George Mason University in the United States of America.
Chidoka’s experience spans areas of politics, economy and public policy. He also obtained a Graduate Diploma in Maritime and Ports Management in 2002 from the National University of Singapore and a certificate in Global Strategy and Political Economy from Mansfield College, Oxford University in 2004.
Chidoka is a notable personality in the nation’s polity. He is a strong public policy advocate and has written many articles, essays and speeches in many areas of public policy. His giant strides at the FRSC are evident to all and he has remained precise on his clear cut vision for safety on Nigerian Roads.
In May 2009, the people of Obosi celebrated him and conferred on him the title of Ike (the strength) of Obosi. Chidoka, aged 39 is happily married with Children.
