President Bola Tinubu has officially reshuffled his cabinet, with significant changes that include the dissolution of the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Ministry of Sports Development.
This announcement was made by the presidential spokesman, Bayo Onanuga, on Wednesday, following the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting. According to Onanuga, the Ministry of Regional Development will now take charge of overseeing all regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, the North West Development Commission, and others across the country.
Additionally, the National Sports Commission has been tasked with assuming the responsibilities of the defunct Ministry of Sports Development. “The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports,” Onanuga confirmed.
In another major shift, President Tinubu has approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy. However, it remains unclear which minister will head the newly merged ministry. Both Hannatu Musawa, the current Minister of Culture, and Lola Ade-John, the Tourism Minister, are potential candidates for leadership, though no formal announcement has been made.
The cabinet reshuffle has also left uncertainty around the future roles of former Niger Delta Affairs Minister Abubakar Momoh and former Sports Minister John Enoh, as their respective ministries have been dissolved.
Tinubu has faced mounting pressure to reshuffle his cabinet since taking office. Just last month, Onanuga had hinted at the possibility, stating that a cabinet overhaul was imminent. Addressing the media at the State House in Abuja on Wednesday, Onanuga expressed that while the government had been working diligently, many Nigerians remained unaware of the administration’s efforts.
“The President has expressed his desire to reshuffle his cabinet, and he will do it,” Onanuga said, adding, “I cannot say if it will happen before October 1, but it is certain he will carry it out. That is all I can confirm at this point, as he has not given us a specific timeline.”
Onanuga further highlighted President Tinubu’s concerns regarding the visibility of his ministers. “At the last Federal Executive Council meeting, the President directed all his ministers to engage with the public and share the progress being made by their ministries. Some ministers have been hesitant to appear in the media, but the President wants them to be proactive and communicate what the government has been achieving,” he noted. “There’s a perception that the government isn’t doing enough, yet much has been done. It’s now up to the ministers to speak up and share those accomplishments.”
The reshuffle, long anticipated by the public, signals a move by President Tinubu to optimize his administration and address growing demands for increased transparency and accountability.
