By Nengi GREEN
Following controversy over the non-naming of a minister for the Niger Delta Ministry, President Bola Tinubu, Sunday, named Engr. Abubakar Momoh as the Minister of Niger Delta Development.
The Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, and other critical stakeholders from the region had expressed fear that President Tinubu may have sidelined the affairs of the Niger Delta following the exclusion of the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs during the recently designation of portfolios to ministers-designate.
In a statement signed by Mr. Ajuri Ngelale, his spokesman, Momoh was formerly deployed to the Ministry of Youth.
The president announced that a new Youth Minister would be appointed soon
The president also changed some portfolios as listed; “H.E. Adegboyega Oyetola is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Marine & Blue Economy; Hon. Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Interior; Hon. Sa’idu Alkali is redeployed as the Honourable Minister of Transportation
“Furthermore, both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations: “Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources; Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources.”
The president also approved the renaming of the Federal Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management as the Federal Ministry of Environment.
“All aforementioned changes take immediate effect by these directives of the President,” the statement read.
The inauguration is slated for Monday, August 21 in Abuja.
