The unveiling of the complete list of Ministerial portfolios by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has led to a shift in initial responses.
This development arises from the revelation that, similar to his predecessor, the President will oversee the petroleum ministry, with former Senator Heineken Lokpobiri serving as the Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
In response to this decision, oil workers are calling for tangible outcomes, as President Bola Tinubu has personally taken on the role of overseeing the Petroleum Ministry portfolio.
Observing the public reaction, a statement released on Wednesday by Willie Bassey, the Director of the Information Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, conveyed; “All the ministers report to the President, so for him to hold the position of petroleum minister doesn’t really matter much. What we should demand is for him to perform. So it doesn’t really matter that he decided to hold that position,” therefore, there is no issue with the President holding this position.
Okugbawa emphasized that former President Muhammadu Buhari simultaneously held the roles of both President and Petroleum Minister, underscoring that Tinubu could similarly manage this responsibility.
“Since they’ve given somebody the position of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, it doesn’t matter that the President is the petroleum minister. By the way, all the ministers report to the President,” he stated.
Recall that during his campaign to the citizens, Former President Muhammadu Buhari made a series of commitments. These pledges encompassed revitalizing the country’s inactive refineries, ensuring the passage of the Petroleum Industry Bill (PIB) within a year, terminating fuel importation, combating corruption in the subsidy system, and more.
In pursuit of these goals, just six months after assuming the presidency in 2015, Buhari designated himself as the Minister of Petroleum Resources. This decision was met with the belief from numerous Nigerians that it would promote transparency and accountability within the nation’s intricate oil sector. He concurrently held the position of Minister of Petroleum Resources, while also designating a Minister of State for Petroleum.
Nevertheless, during his tenure, the sector encountered various difficulties, such as fuel shortages that resulted in hardships for numerous Nigerians, all the while substantial resources were being expended on fuel subsidies.
Given that citizens have observed the outcomes of the previous administration, Bala Zaka, an expert in petroleum matters, noted that the petroleum minister must tackle the challenges of crude oil theft and pipeline vandalism.
Furthermore, he urged the government to develop policies that could attract investments to the sector and ensure comprehensive rejuvenation of the industry in alignment with international standards.
He said, “The new minister must demonstrate indignation to make sure that crude oil thefts and pipeline vandalism is stopped immediately with the ultimate goal to improve oil production.
“He must put his foot firmly on the ground and make sure all these issues bedevilling the industry are solved. He must provide immediate solutions to these issues and formulate policies because investors are running away due to the country’s poor business climate.’’
A maritime lawyer, Emeka Akabogu, asserted, “If he is competent enough to be the president of Nigeria, then he is competent to also be the petroleum minister. Whether the President is competent enough or not is of no consequence he is the appointer, he is the commander in chief so he has the prerogative of what to do and what not to do.’’
Nigerians are pondering a significant question: “Will Tinubu succeed in this role?” Given the shortcomings witnessed during the previous administration, the outcome is yet to unfold.
Remember that on Wednesday, the President disclosed the roles assigned to 45 ministers, following their confirmation by the Senate after a week-long screening process.
The ministers are scheduled to take their oath of office on Monday at the State House Conference in Aso Villa, Abuja, administered by the President.
THE FULL LIST
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy – Bosun Tijani
Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management – Ishak Salako
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Wale Edun
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy – Bunmi Tunji
Minister of Power – Adedayo Adelabu
Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare – Tunji Alausa
Minister of Solid Minerals Development- Dele Alake
Minister of Tourism- Lola Ade-John
Minister of Transportation- Adegboyega Oyetola
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment –Doris Anite
Minister of Innovation Science and Technology- Uche Nnaji
Minister of State, Labour and Employment- Nkiruka Onyejeocha
Minister of Women Affairs- Uju Kennedy
Minister of Works David Umahi
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development- Festus Keyamo
Minister of Youth- Abubakar Momoh
Minister of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy – Bosun Tijani
Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management – Ishak Salako
Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy – Wale Edun
Minister of Marine and Blue Economy – Bunmi Tunji
Minister of Power – Adedayo Adelabu
Minister of State, Health and Social Welfare – Tunji Alausa
Minister of Solid Minerals Development- Dele Alake
Minister of Tourism- Lola Ade-John
Minister of Transportation- Adegboyega Oyetola
Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment –Doris Anite
Minister of Innovation Science and Technology- Uche Nnaji
Minister of State, Labour and Employment- Nkiruka Onyejeocha
Minister of Women Affairs- Uju Kennedy
Minister of Works David Umahi
Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development- Festus Keyamo
Minister of Youth- Abubakar Momoh
Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation- Betta Edu
Minister of State, Gas Resources- Ekperikpe Ekpo
Minister of State, Petroleum Resources- Heineken Lokpobiri
Minister of Sports Development, John Enoh
Minister of Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike
Minister of Art, Culture and the Creative Economy, Hannatu Musawa
Minister of Defence – Mohammed Badaru
Minister of State Defence- Bello Matawalle
Minister of State Education- Yusuf T. Sunumu
Minister of Housing and Urban Development – Ahmed M. Dangiwa
Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development – Abdullah T. Gwarzo
Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu
Minister of Environment and Ecological Management, (Kaduna)
Minister of State, Federal Capital Territory, Mairiga Mahmud
Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation, Bello M. Goronyo
Minister of Agriculture and Food Security, Abubakar Kyari
Minister of Education, Tahir Maman
Minister of Interior, Sa’Idu A. Alkali
Minister of Foreign Affairs- Yusuf M. Tuggar
Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate
Minister of Police Affairs, Ibrahim Geidam
Minister of State, Steel Development, U. Maigari Ahmadu
Minister of Steel Development, Shuaibu A. Audu
Minister of Information and National Orientation, Muhammed Idris
Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon B. Lalong
Minister of State, Police Affairs, Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim
Minister of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Affairs, Zephaniah Jisalo
Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation, Joseph Utsev
Minister of State, Agriculture and Food Security, Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi.
After the list was made public, Nigerians have turned to social media to share their responses to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s unveiling of the complete list of Ministers’ portfolios.
According to Bello Shagari (@Belshagy) on X, Nigerians focus should be on lamenting Elrufa’i’s removal from the Ministerial list, because there will be no one as determined and seasoned.
Additional remarks emerged, indicating that Nigerians may lack confidence in the approved list.