New ministries, those with new names in Tinubu’s cabinet
President Bola Tinubu on Wednesday unveiled the portfolios of the 45 minister-designates earlier confirmed by the Senate.
While some of the designates were posted to ministries as expected, others came as surprises to a number of Nigerians.
The President also modified the names of some ministries, unbundled some ministries while some other new ones were created outrightly.
Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, had last month hinted that President Tinubu might create new ministries after he submitted the names of nominees to the Senate for screening.
“Mr President intends to separate portfolios or restructure the ministries in such a way you might be hearing of new ministries that were not standalone ministries before. So the process continues,” he stated.
The new Ministries created are Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy with Bunmi Tunji Ojo as Minister, Ministry of Tourism with Lola Ade-John as Minister.
Among the old ministries with new names are the Ministry of Health now to be known as Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with Prof Ali Pate as Minister and Dr. Tunji Alausa as Minister of State.
The Ministry of Finance, Budget and Planning was also unbundled to become two ministries: ministries of Finance, Budget and Economic Planning, while the ministry of Works and Housing was also unbundled into two: ministries of Works and, Housing and Urban Development
Wale Edun was named the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, while former Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu is the new Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.
Former Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi was appointed Minister of Works, while Ahmed Dangiwa is the new Minister of Housing and Urban Development.
The President also unbundled the Ministry of Youth and Sports Development, naming John Enoh Minister of Sports Development, while Abubakar Momoh was named Minister of Youth. The Ministry of Art, Culture and Creative Economy was also created from the Ministry of Information and Culture with Hannatu Musawa as Minister, while the Ministry of Information and Culture was renamed Ministry of Information and National Orientation with Muhammed Idris as Minister.
The Ministry of Mines and Steel Development is now to be known as the Ministry of Steel Development with Shuaibu Audu as Minister, while Maigari Ahmadu will serve as Minister of State. The Ministry of Solid Minerals Development which was in existence in former President Muhammadu Buhari’s first term was also reintroduced with Dele Alake as Minister. The Ministry of Aviation was also renamed Ministry of Aviation and Aerospace Development with Festus Keyamo as Minister.
Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development was also renamed Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security with Abubakar Kyari as Minister and Sabi Abdullahi as Minister of State. Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Disaster Management and Social Development was also renamed Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation with Betta Edu as Minister. The Ministry of Environment was also renamed Ministry of Environment and Ecology without a substantive minister, but with Ishak Salako as Minister of State.
Ministry of Communications and Digital Economy became Ministry of Communications, Innovation and Digital Economy with Bosun Tijani as Minister. The Ministry of Petroleum without a substantive Minister also had two Ministers of State appointed. Heineken Lokpobiri was appointed Minister of State, Petroleum Resources, while Ekperikpe Ekpo was appointed Minister of State, Gas Resources.
