President Bola Tinubu has taken on the mantle of the Petroleum Ministry portfolio, following the footsteps of his predecessor.
He will concurrently hold the position of Minister of Petroleum, while former Senator Heineken Lokpobiri takes on the role of Minister of State for Petroleum Resources.
The announcement came as President Tinubu disclosed the ministerial portfolios of 45 appointed ministers, nine days subsequent to their confirmation by the Senate following a week-long screening process.
The official swearing-in ceremony for the ministers is scheduled to take place at the State House Conference in Aso Villa, Abuja, on the upcoming Monday.
The roster of appointments highlights that 13 of the nominees have been appointed as ministers of state, alongside the creation and renaming of several ministries.
However, the names of certain nominees, including Nasir El-Rufai, former governor of Kaduna State, Stella Okotete, former national women leader of the All Progressives Congress, and Danladi Abubakar from Taraba State, were conspicuously absent from the list.
The Senate had withheld their confirmation due to objections and petitions filed by concerned Nigerians. The Senate disclosed that the three nominees were referred to security agencies for thorough checks.
In response to these developments, El-Rufai purportedly withdrew his nomination and recommended an associate loyal to the President as a replacement.
The responsibilities of the Ministry of Works will be overseen by former Ebonyi State governor Dave Umahi, while the ex-governor of Jigawa State, Muhammed Badaru, has been appointed Minister of Defence.
Contrary to the appeal by Abuja natives for a local to head the Federal Capital Territory Ministry, the position was secured by former Rivers State governor Nyesom Wike. Mariga Mahmoud will join Wike as the Minister of State for the Federal Capital Territory.
On another note, Tahir Mamman, former director-general of the Law School, will lead the Ministry of Education.
The appointed ministers also include Bosun Tijani as Minister of Communications, Innovation, and Digital Economy; Ishak Salako as Minister of State for Environment and Ecological Management; Wale Edun as Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy.
The list continues with Bunmi Tunji-Ojo as Minister of Marine and Blue Economy; Adebayo Adelabu as Minister of Power; Tunji Alausa as Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare; Dele Alake as Minister of Solid Minerals Development; Lola Ade-John as Minister of Tourism; and Adegboyega Oyetola as Minister of Transportation.
Doris Anite will head the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment; Uche Nnaji will lead the Ministry of Innovation, Science, and Technology; Nkiruka Onyejeocha will oversee the Ministry of State for Labour and Employment; Uju Kennedy will helm the Ministry of Women Affairs; and Festus Keyamo will serve as Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
The list also comprises Abubakar Momoh as Minister of Youth; Betta Edu as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation; Ekperikpe Ekpo as Minister of State for Gas Resources; and John Enoh as Minister of Sports Development.
Additional appointees include Hannatu Musawa as Minister of Arts, Culture, and Creative Economy; Bello Matawalle as Minister of State for Defence; Tanko Sununu as Minister of State for Education; Ahmed Dangiwa as Minister of Housing and Urban Development; Abdullahi Gwarzo as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; Atiku Bagudu as Minister of Budget and Economic Planning; Bello Goronyo as Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation; and Abubakar Kyari as Minister of Agriculture.
Former Yobe governor Ibrahim Geidam takes on the role of Minister of Police Affairs; former Nigerian ambassador to Germany Yusuf Tuggar assumes the position of Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Tinubu also appointed Saidu Alkali as Minister of Interior; Ali Pate as Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare; Maigari Ahmadu as Minister of State for Steel and Development; and Shaibu Audu as Minister of Steel and Development.
Among the 45 appointees are Muhammed Idris as Minister of Information and National Orientation; Lateef Fagbemi, SAN, as Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice; Simon Lalong as Minister of Labour and Employment; Inman Suleiman as Minister of State for Police Affairs; Zephaniah Jisalo as Minister of Special Duties; Joseph Utsev as Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation; and Aliyu Abdullahi as Minister of State for Agriculture and Food Security.