Tinubu Withdraws Nomination of 24-Year-Old FERMA Board Chairman

In a surprising turn of events, President Bola Tinubu has decided to withdraw the nomination of Imam Kashim Imam, a 24-year-old, as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Federal Roads Maintenance Agency (FERMA). According to Newsmen, this decision comes just a day after Tinubu reconstituted the Governing Board and Management team of FERMA for a renewable term of four years.

Imam Kashim Imam is the son of Kashim Ibrahim-Imam, a prominent politician from Borno State. Kashim Ibrahim-Imam contested for the position of Governor in his home state twice, in 2003 and 2007, under the banner of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). On both occasions, he was defeated by Ali Modu Sheriff, the candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP).

The nomination of Imam Kashim Imam had elicited significant public scrutiny and criticism, with some Nigerians expressing concerns about his qualifications and prior work experience. Imam holds a first-class degree in Mechanical Engineering from Brighton University in the United Kingdom.

The decision to withdraw Imam Kashim Imam’s nomination was made public by the Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale. The official statement titled “President Tinubu directs withdrawal of FERMA chairmanship nomination” confirmed the withdrawal of the appointment with immediate effect. The statement further clarified that all other appointments to the Board and Executive Management team of FERMA remain unaffected by this directive.

While the Presidency has not yet announced a replacement for the position of FERMA Board Chairman, the decision to withdraw Imam Kashim Imam’s nomination has sparked discussions and debates among the Nigerian public.