…as presidency denies lists’ authenticity
A list is now widely circulating that suggests the once powerful ministry of power, works and housing headed by former Lagos State governor, Babatunde Raji Fashola, has been split into three with Fashola set to handle only the power portfolio while Mohammed H. Abdullahi takes over works and Mustapha Baba Shehuri handles housing.
However, a reaction to the speculation by President Muhammadu Buhari’s special assistant on new media, Bashir Ahmaad, on his Twitter page, urged Nigerians to disregard any list of ministers’ portfolio making the rounds on social media.
According to him, the list will be officially announced by President Buhari during inauguration.
Ahmad on his Twitter page wrote: “So someone makes a list of Ministers-Designate and assigned portfolio for them. The assigned list is now trending on WhatsApp as usual.
“DISREGARD any list please Nigerians. Portfolio will be announced by Mr. President after their inauguration as Ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
In the list, each of the ministries are to have junior ministers (ministers of state) with Muhammadu Maigari Dingyadi as minister of state for power, Ukechukwu Ogah as minister of state for works and Tayo Alasoadura as minister of state for housing, while Goddy Jedy-Agba replaces Ibe Kachikwu as the minister of state for the powerful petroleum portfolio.
It is also being speculated that Zainab Ahmed, Geoffrey Onyeama, Mohammed Bello, Rotimi Amaechi, Adamu Adamu, Chris Ngige, Ogbonnaya Onu, Lai Mohammed and Hadi Sirika will retain their finance, foreign affairs, FCT, transportation, education, labour, science&technology, information and aviation portfolios respectively.
President Buhari had earlier stated that he would hand over portfolios to the ministers on the day of their swearing in, but sources say that does not mean a comprehensive list would not have been made before the ceremony seen by senior presidency officials.
Others on the list are, Festus Keyamo as minister of justice and attorney general; Bashir Magashi as minister of defence; Sabo Nanono as minister of industry, trade and investment; Timipre Silva as minister of solid minerals, Abubakar Malami as minister of interior; Rauf Aregbesola as minister of budget&national planning, Aliyu Isa Ibrahim Pantami as minister for communication, and George Akume as minister of agriculture and rural development.
Osagie Ehanire was listed as minister of health, Pauline Tallen as minister of women affairs, Godswill Akpabio as minister of Niger Delta, Muhammadu Mahmoud as minister of environment, Suleiman Adamu as minister of water resources, Saleh Mamman as minister of youth and sports.
Junior ministers also listed are Mariam Katagum as minister of state for transportation, Clement IK Anade Agba as minister of state for environment, Olamilekan Adegbite as minister of state for aviation, Adeleke O. Mamora as minister of state for foreign affairs, Gbamisola Saraki as minister of state for solid minerals, Ramatu Tijjani as minister of state for health, Sharon O. Ikeazo as miinister of state for Niger Delta.
Other tentative ministers of states mentioned are, Sunday Dare as minister of state for education, Zubairu Dada as minister of state for agriculture and rural development, Sa’adiya Umar Farouk as mnister of state for labour and employment, Abubakar D Aliyu as minister of state for budget and national planning, Emeka Nwajiuba as minister of state for industry, trade and investment and Otunba Richard A. Adebayo as minister of state for defense.
