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| Tinubu |
Like Buhari, Tinubu likely to take petroleum ministry
Editor
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, like his predecessor Muhammadu Buhari, appears to have prepared to head the Ministry of Petroleum Resources and the newly created Ministry of Gas Resources.
President Tinubu, Wednesday, assigned portfolios to his ministers, after confirmation by the Senate.
Former Rivers state governor, Nyesom Wike, was named Minister of the FCT while Wale Edun was named Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Festus Keyamo got Aviation Ministry and Blueprint Publisher, Mohammed Idris Malagi took Information Ministry.
Some of the other key portfolios include Prof. Ali Pate, as Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Lateef Fagbemi as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice. Ex-Jigawa Governor Mohamed Badaru was named Minister of Defence while Ex-Kebbi Governor Atiku Bagudu was named Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.
The president, however, did not assign any ministerial nominees to head the new ministry of gas resources and petroleum resources. Although he has not directly stated that he intends to hold the office of petroleum minister, the failure to appoint someone for the position indicates that President Tinubu intends to hold the office. His spokesperson, Ajuri Ngelale keeps mum on the speculation.
Heineken Lokpobiri, a former Nigerian senator, was named the Minister of State for Petroleum while Ekperikpe Epko, a former member of the House of Representatives, was named the Minister of State for Gas Resources.
On 29 May, during his inauguration as president, Tinubu announced the removal of subsidy on petrol which the government was spending almost a trillion naira on monthly basis.