Following protestations by the leaders of the Niger Delta over non-assignment of a substantive minister to the ministry of Niger Delta, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has carried out a minor reshuffle in his barely one week old cabinet.
A statement issued by Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity, Ajuri Ngelale on Sunday, August 20, the Ministry of Niger Delta Development is to be headed by Abubakar Momoh, who was initially assigned to the federal Ministry of Youth.
Former Osun state governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, was re-assigned to the newly created Ministry of Marine and blue economy while Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, who was earlier assigned that portfolio, is now the minister-designate for the Ministry of Interior.
The statement read: “President Bola Tinubu has approved the redeployment of Engr. Abubakar Momoh from the Federal Ministry of Youth to the Federal Ministry of Niger Delta Development.
“The Federal Ministry of Youth is to be re-assigned to a Minister-Designate soon.
“The Ministers-Designate allocated to the Federal Ministries of Transportation, Interior, and Marine & Blue Economy have been reshuffled as follows: (A) H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy; (B) Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Interior; and (C) Hon. Sa’idu Alkali is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Transportation
“Furthermore, both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations: (i) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources; (ii) Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources
“The President approves the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as the Federal Ministry of Environment. All aforementioned changes take immediate effect by these directives of the President.”
