President Muhammadu Buhari has on Wednesday swore in seven new ministers recently screened and confirmed by the Senate.
The first of Ministers sworn in were Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State, Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State, Odum Odih – Rivers State, and Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State.
While the second batch sworn in comprised Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State, Goodluck Nnana Opiah – Imo State, and Egwumakama Joseph Nkama – Ebonyi State.
Meanwhile before the swearing in, a minute silence was observed in honour of Mohammed Sanusi Barkindo, the 4th Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) Secretary-General, who died at the age of 63 on Tuesday night in Abuja.
Meanwhile, President Buhari has also assigned the new Ministers portfolios while carrying out a minor cabinet reshuffle.
The erstwhile Minister of State for Health, Dr. Adeleke Mamora has be redeployed to the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation as the substantive Minister, while the erstwhile Minister of State for Works and Housing, Muazu Jaji Sambo, has been moved to the Ministry of Transportation in the same capacity.
Newly appointed Minister Umanna Okon Umanna is the Minister of Niger Delta Affairs, while the erstwhile Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazor, was moved to Niger Delta Affairs in the same capacity.
Erstwhile Minister of State for Transportation, Gbemisola Saraki, has been redeployed to the Ministry Mines and Steel Development in the same capacity, while Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub is the new Minister of State for Works and Housing.