Source reveals why president Tinubu sacked some Ministers

President Bola Tinubu, in a decisive move to realign his government, approved a significant cabinet reshuffle on Wednesday, leading to the dismissal of six ministers and the nomination of seven fresh faces, including prominent figures such as Bianca Odumegwu-Ojukwu, widow of the former Biafran leader. This development occurred during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting, chaired by the President.

Among those dismissed were Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye from the Ministry of Women Affairs, Lola Ade-John from Tourism, Prof. Tahir Mamman from Education, Abdullahi Gwarzo from Housing and Urban Development, and Jamila Ibrahim from Youth Development. This reshuffle appears to target key sectors for a refreshed approach.

Tinubu’s new nominees signal a strategic shift in governance, with Dr. Nentawe Yilwatda set to replace the suspended Betta Chimaobim Edu as the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation. Maigari Dingyadi has been nominated as Minister of Labour and Employment, Jumoke Oduwole as Minister of Industry, Trade, and Investment, and Idi Maiha as the head of the newly established Ministry of Livestock Development.

Other nominees include Yusuf Ata as Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, and Suwaiba Ahmad as Minister of State for Education. Perhaps most notably, Bianca Ojukwu is positioned to take on the role of Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, pending Senate approval.

In an effort to streamline the government’s functions, the Ministry of Niger Delta Development has been rebranded as the Ministry of Regional Development. This newly formed entity will manage regional development commissions across the Niger Delta, South East, North East, and North West, reflecting a broader mandate for balanced national growth.

Additionally, the Ministry of Sports Development has been dissolved, with its responsibilities transferred to the National Sports Commission, an effort to boost the sports economy. Furthermore, the Ministry of Tourism has been merged with the Ministry of Arts and Culture, now collectively known as the Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and Creative Economy.

Insiders from the presidency, speaking under anonymity, indicated that this reshuffle is part of a larger strategy aimed at enhancing the government's capacity to deliver on President Tinubu’s reform agenda. “There is a growing sentiment that the cabinet could achieve far more with stronger hands on deck,” one source disclosed, underscoring the urgency for a more responsive and efficient administration.