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President Buhari Keeps Petroleum Ministry, Assigns Others

As Nigerians waited anxiously for the President to assign his ministers, many were secretly making permutations on who gets what, just as the ministers themselves were … Continue reading President Buhari Keeps Petroleum Ministry, Assigns Others


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FasholaAs Nigerians waited anxiously for the President to assign his ministers, many were secretly making permutations on who gets what, just as the ministers themselves were eager to know the portfolios they will be assigned.

Assigning the portfolios on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari confirmed his headship of the Petroleum Ministry while he appointed the Group Managing Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, Mr Ibe Kachikwu, the Minister of State for Petroleum.

Former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, was announced as Minister of Works, Power and Housing.

And for Nigerians, this is key because the economy revolves around power, just as many want to see the roads fixed.

The Solid Mineral Ministry is headed by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, was also assigned Transportation and Aviation ministry.

Ministry of Labour and Employment is headed by Dr. Chris Ngige, while the Ministry of Finance is headed by the former Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State, Kemi Adeosun.

The ministers took their oath of office on Wednesday, which automatically concluded the process of constituting a new cabinet.

In a group of four each, the ministers took their oath.

“Keep Hope Alive”

The President, after the swearing in, said that his administration would continue to implement policies that would improve the economy of the nation.

He emphasised that the Federal Government would implement policies that would generate massive employment for youths and ensure food security.

“We are optimistic that bringing this set of ministers into the service of our country today, is a step in the right direction and a timely move towards realising our positive goals for our country.

“Since we assumed office in May, I have been mindful of the need to ensure that appointment of the new ministers translates into putting round pegs in round holes wile showing sensitivity to our diversity as a people and our various positions as groups of stakeholders of our country,” he said.

The President further told the gathering that he had been mindful of the need not to repeat mistakes of the past where the right people are allocated the wrong portfolios which translated into poor performance to Nigerians collective detriment despite their obvious capabilities.

“Our government shall continue more decisively to implement its policies in respect for the economy and in other areas.”

He reiterated his determination to diversify the economy with agriculture becoming a major sector.

“While working hard to maximise the revenue from oil in the face of the sharp decline of the price of the commodity, we are determined to diversify the economy in agriculture to enhance employment and explore solid minerals, as a major revenue earner.

“The primary aim is to achieve self-sufficiency in production of such staples as rice and wheat and to become a major consumer and exporter of those items as well as solid minerals,” the President stated.

He emphasised that ‘government business’ must be conducted with transparency, citing the adoption of the Treasury Single Account as a way of blocking financial leakages in the public sector to make more funds available for the business of government and welfare of Nigerians.

“Our new ministers must proceed to work speedily and do their uttermost to justify the confidence we have placed in them, not only by their conduct but also by their performance in their various positions,” President Buhari stressed.

With assurances that the country will experience positive changes, the President asked that all Nigerians “keep hope alive” and sustain their optimism about the future of the nation’s economic well-being.

Full List Of Ministers And Portfolios

Abubakar Malami (SAN) – Justice

Geoffrey Onyeama – Foreign Affairs

Khadija Abubakar Abba Ibrahim – State Minister of Foreign Affairs

Brigadier-General Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd) – Defence

Adamu Adamu – Education

Professor Anthony Anwuka – State Minister of Education

Kemi Adeosun – Finance

Okechukwu Enelama – Industry, Trade and Investment

Aisha Abubakar – State Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Senator (Dr.) Chris Ngige – Labour and Employment

Barrister James Ocholi – State Minister of Labour and Employment

Muhammodu Bello – Federal Capital Territory

Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau – Interior

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma – Budget and National Planning

Zainab Ahmed – State Minister of Budget and National Planning

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu – State Minister of Petroleum Resources

Babatunde Fashola (SAN) – Power, Works and Housing

Mustapha Baba Shehuri – State Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh – Agricultural and Rural Development

Heineken Lokpobiri – State Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi – Transportation

Senator Hadi Sirika – State Minister of Aviation

Isaac Folorunso Adewole – Health

Dr. Osagie Ehanire – State Minister of Health

Senator Aisha Al-Hassan – Woman Affairs

Pastor Usani Uguru – Niger Delta

Claudius Omoleye Daramola – State Minister of Niger Delta

Barrister Adebayo Shittu – Communications

Lai Mohammed – Information

Amina Mohammed – Environment

Ibrahim Usman Jubril – State Minister of Environment

Engineer Suleiman Adamu – Water Resources

Barrister Solomon Dalong – Youth and Sports

Kayode Fayemi – Solid Minerals

Abubakar Bwari – Minister Of States of Solid Minerals

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu – Science and Technology