Tinubu appoints Niger Delta Minister, reassigns portfolios

President Bola Tinubu, on Sunday appointed Engr. Abubakar Momoh as the Minister of Niger Delta Development.

Presidential spokesman, Ajuri Ngelale, announced in a statement on Sunday night.

Niger Delta was not on the list of ministries that released last week, triggering mixed reactions.

On Saturday, the Pan Niger Delta Forum (PANDEF) vowed to resist any move to cancel the Ministry of Niger Delta.

But in addition to Aside the inclusion of Niger Delta, President Tinubu also changed portfolios of some ministers.

Former Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, who was initially announced Transportation Minister, has been redeployed to the Ministry of Marine & Blue Economy, while Bunmi Tunji-Ojo is now redeployed as the Minister of Interior.

Hon. Sa’idu Alkali was redeployed as the Minister of Transportation.

The statement added, “Furthermore, both Ministers of State in the Oil & Gas sector are now domiciled in the Federal Ministry of Petroleum Resources with the following designations:

“(i) Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri is the Hon. Minister of State (Oil), Petroleum Resources

“(ii) Hon. Ekperipe Ekpo is the Hon. Minister of State (Gas), Petroleum Resources.”

Tinubu 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 added.

The ministers will be sworn in at the presidential villa in Abuja on Monday.