At least four candidates are on the radar of President Muhammadu Buhari for consideration as the Director General of the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
According to multiple sources at the Presidency, among the 12 candidates that indicated interest in the job, four have been shortlisted for screening.
Top on the list is the acting director general, Mrs. Yetunde Oni, who has been on the saddle since February, 2016. Others said to be in contention are a professor of pharmacy, Mr. Suleiman Abubakar; Mallam Umar Musa and Mr. Shaba Mohammed, director and deputy director respectively at the agency.
“Of the lot the odds are in favour of Mrs. Oni, who trained as a chemist at first and masters degree levels,” one of the sources said.
The source who sought anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the matter, said, “In any case, the mood of the President is that the incumbent, who is also a foundation staff of the agency, must be allowed to continued after a fantastic turn-around of NAFDAC since last year.”
There are indications that the Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, may be favourably disposed to the confirmation of Oni as the substantive director general on the grounds of her strings of achievements since she assumed office last year.
