By Remilekun Alabi
President Bola Tinubu has dismissed five ministers from his cabinet in a sweeping reshuffle aimed at boosting the administration’s efficiency. This was disclosed in a statement issued on Wednesday by the President’s Special Adviser on Social Media, Dada Olusegun.
The ministers affected by the shake-up include the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju-Ken Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Prof. Tahir Mamman; Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Muhammad Gwarzo; and Minister of Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim.
In the statement, Olusegun said, “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR has approved the immediate implementation of eight far-reaching actions to reinvigorate the Administration’s capacity for optimal efficiency, in line with his commitment to deliver on his promises to Nigerians.”
Among the changes, Tinubu renamed the Ministry of Niger Delta Development to the Ministry of Regional Development, tasked with overseeing all regional development commissions. The Ministry of Sports Development’s functions were transferred to the National Sports Commission, and the Federal Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture were merged into the newly formed Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.
Additionally, 10 ministers were reassigned to new portfolios, seven new ministers were nominated for Senate confirmation, and key appointments were made, including Shehu Dikko as Chairman of the National Sports Commission and Sunday Akin Dare as Special Adviser on Public Communication and Orientation, under the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.
Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu was named Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, while Jumoke Oduwole was appointed Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment. Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda was appointed as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction, while Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi was named Minister of Labour & Employment.
Other notable appointments include Idi Mukhtar Maiha as the Minister of Livestock Development, Yusuf Abdullahi Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Said Ahmad as Minister of State for Education.