President Bola Tinubu has appointed Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda as the new Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, replacing Betta Chimaobim Edu, who was suspended.
Tinubu also sack five ministers from his cabinet.
This move is part of a broader restructuring of ministries and ministerial portfolios approved by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) on Wednesday.
The FEC, in a meeting chaired by President Tinubu, confirmed the dismissal of five ministers and the nomination of seven new ministers. These appointments are now set to be sent to the Senate for confirmation. Among the newly appointed ministers is Bianca Odinakachukwu Olivia Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of the former Biafran leader, Chukwuemeka Odumegwu Ojukwu.
Key decisions from the FEC meeting include the renaming of the Ministry of Niger Delta Development to the Ministry of Regional Development. This new ministry will oversee the activities of all Regional Development Commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, South East Development Commission, North East Development Commission, and North West Development Commission.
Additionally, the council approved the dissolution of the Ministry of Sports Development, transferring its functions to the National Sports Commission in a bid to boost Nigeria’s sports economy. In another significant change, the Ministry of Tourism and the Federal Ministry of Arts and Culture were merged into the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy. These reforms are expected to streamline operations and enhance the efficiency of governance.
Below are lists of ministers reassigned, disengaged and those appointed newly to different ministries:
1. Hon Dr. Yusuf Tanko, Sununu formerly Minister of State, Education Minister of State but now Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
2. Dr. Morufu Olatunji, Alausa Minister State, Health Minister of Education
3. Barr. Bello Muhammad Goronyo formerly Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation but now Minister of State Works.
4. Hon. Abubakar Eshiokpekha Momoh formerly Minister of Niger Delta Development but now Minister of Regional Development
5. Uba Maigari Ahmadu formerly Minister of State Steel Development but now Minister of State Regional Development
6. Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite formerly Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment, now Minister of State Finance
7. Sen. John Owan Enoh formerly Minister of Sports Development, now Minister of State Trade and Investment [Industry]
8. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim formerlt Minister of State, Police Affairs but now Minister of Women Affairs
9. Ayodele Olawande formerly Minister of State for Youth Development but now Minister for Youth Development
10. Dr. Salako Iziaq Adekunle Adeboye formerly Minister of State, Environment, now Minister of State, Health
List of new ministers appointed are:
1. Dr Nentawe Yilwatda: Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction
2. Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi: Minister of Labour & Employment. Federal Ministry of Labour & Employment
3. Bianca Odinaka Odumegu-Ojukwu: Minister of State Foreign Affairs. Ministry of Foreign Affairs
4. Dr Jumoke Oduwole: Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment (Trade and Investment). Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment
5. Idi Mukhtar Maiha: Ministry of Livestock Development. Federal Ministry of Livestock Development
6. Rt. Hon. Yusuf Abdullahi Ata: Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development. Federal Ministry of Housing and Urban
Development
7. Suwaiba Said Ahmad, PhD: Minister of State Education. Federal Ministry of Education
The Minister sacked are:
1. Barr. Uju-Ken Ohanenye – Minister of Women Affairs
2. Lola Ade-John – Minister of Tourism
3. Prof Tahir Mamman SAN OON – Minister of Education
4. Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo – Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development
5. Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim – Minister of Youth Development
