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Cabinet Shake-Up: Tinubu's Bold Moves Spark Division Between Private Sector and Opposition"

In a dramatic reshuffle, President Bola Tinubu has shaken up his cabinet, reassigning 10 ministers, dismissing five, and appointing seven new ones in a bid to boost efficiency in governance. This strategic move, unveiled on Wednesday following the 19th meeting of the Federal Executive Council at the State House in Abuja, has sparked mixed reactions from the private sector, opposition parties, and civil society organizations.

As part of the overhaul, Tinubu has rebranded the Ministry of Niger Delta Development as the Ministry of Regional Development, dissolved the Ministry of Sports Development, and merged the Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture into a new entity—the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism and the Creative Economy. These changes aim to streamline operations and enhance the government's ability to fulfill its promises to the Nigerian people.

Among those dismissed are prominent figures, including the Ministers of Women Affairs, Uju-Kennedy-Ohanenye, Tourism, Lola Ade-John, Education, Tahir Mamman, Youth Development, Dr. Jamila Bio Ibrahim, and State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo. In a statement, the presidency expressed gratitude for their service, wishing them well in their future endeavors.

In contrast, the reshuffled cabinet sees significant portfolio changes: Dr. Yusuf Sununu transitions from Minister of State for Education to Minister of State for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Dr. Olatunji Alausa moves from Minister of State for Health to Minister of Education; and Bello Goronyo, previously Minister of State for Water Resources and Sanitation, now takes on the role of Minister of State for Works. Abubakar Momoh has been tasked with overseeing the newly formed Ministry of Regional Development, which will manage various regional development commissions.

Meanwhile, Uba Ahmadu has been reassigned from Minister of State for Steel Development to Minister of State for Regional Development, and Dr. Doris Uzoka-Anite has transitioned from Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment to Minister of State for Finance. John Enoh, formerly Minister of Sports Development, now serves as Minister of State for Trade and Investment, while Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim has shifted from Minister of State for Police Affairs to Minister of Women Affairs. Ayodele Olawande retains his position as Minister for Youth Development, and Dr. Salako Adeboye has moved from Minister of State for Environment to Minister of State for Health.

In addition to the reshuffling, Tinubu nominated seven new ministers pending confirmation by the Senate. The appointees include Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda from Plateau as Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction; Muhammadu Dingyadi from Sokoto as Minister of Labour & Employment; Bianca Odumegu-Ojukwu from Imo as Minister of State for Foreign Affairs; Dr. Jumoke Oduwole from Ogun State as Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment; Idi Maiha from Kaduna as Minister of Livestock Development; Yusuf Ata from Kano as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development; and Dr. Suwaiba Ahmad from Kano as Minister of State for Education.

In his remarks, Tinubu charged the newly appointed ministers, as well as their reassigned colleagues, to view their appointments as a call to serve the nation. Furthermore, Shehu Dikko has been appointed as Chairman of the National Sports Commission, while Sunday Dare, a former sports minister, will serve as Special Adviser to the President on Public Communication and Orientation, operating from the Ministry of Information and National Orientation.

The President emphasized that all appointees must grasp the administration’s eagerness and determination to "set Nigeria on the path to irreversible growth" and invest their utmost abilities into realizing the government's priorities. As the nation watches, the effectiveness of these appointments and the cabinet reshuffle as a whole will be critical in addressing the pressing challenges facing Nigeria today.