For new ministers, work begins
Lagos ‘golden boy’ Fashola becomes Buhari’s
‘Actualizer’
FEW hours after they were sworn in and their
portfolios announced, President Muhammadu
Buhari’s ministers literally hit the ground running.
But like school children awaiting the
headmaster’s verdict on their last examination,
the impression was very strong that they may
not have known what portfolios the President
would assign them to until he read them out.
The visibly tense atmosphere and silence were
not eased by the restrained attire of some of the
ministers who could not have found any comfort
in Buhari’s unemotional, business-like
announcement of their names and portfolios,
some of which attracted spasms of cheer and
clapping.
From his pedestal, Buhari, though sending a
rallying call to his change agents, also sent the
message: ‘I am my own man.’
That they heeded the call may not be in question
as one after the other, the new ministers seem
to have keyed in on Buhari’s exhortation that
they must justify the confidence reposed on
them by him and Nigerians as a whole.
Reforms to spread to entire oil and gas sector
Minister of State for Petroleum Resources, Dr.
Ibe Kachikwu said the reforms carried out in the
Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC)
would flow to the entire oil and gas sector.
His words: “I think we have lost a lot of
momentum in this sector by what is happening in
the international environment that we now need
to sit down and map out very clear deliverables.
Within the next months, we would get the
managing directors of the parastatals to work
with us closely to know what the agenda of the
present administration is. Part of the reason I
am chosen to supervise this ministry is to be
able to help initiate some of the change process
we embarked upon at the NNPC.”
He said while Buhari has approved fuel import
claims of petroleum marketers, the approval of
the National Assembly is needed before the
money can be assessed.
Tumultuous welcome for Fashola
At the Ministry of Power, the atmosphere was a
mixture of subdued excitement and some
uncertainty with people discussing the double-
barreled portfolio of Power, Works and Housing
given to former Lagos State Governor, Babatunde
Fashola.
“Have the ministries being merged.” “Is he going
to be based here or at the Ministry of Works and
Housing office in Mabushi?’’ “ With this
appointment Buhari has shown that Fashola is
his most trusted ally” were some of the
comments going round until 3:15 p.m., a
thunderous shouts of excitement erupted at the
ground floor of the block housing the ministry;
Fashola had arrived.
Surrounded by a crowd of happy, cheering faces,
it was as if the entire Federal Secretariat
workforce trooped out to welcome him.
He was ushered to his office by the director in
charge of Human Resources, Mrs. Grace Papka
where he and his Minister of State, Mustapha
Shehuri who joined him later met with directors
behind closed-doors.
Professionals’ rivalry in Health Ministry to be
addressed
The new Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole,
said he would use the next four weeks to lay
‘solid foundation’ for healthcare delivery in the
country.
He also pledged to end professional rivalry which
has plagued the sector for years.
Adewole, who spoke when he resumed as
Minister in Abuja yesterday, was accompanied by
the Minister of State, Prof. Osagie Ehanire.
He said the deliverables must be set to convince
people of the reality of the change slogan of
President Buhari.
He drew attention to the professional rivalries in
the sector, noting that everybody must work
together to improve on the health of the nation’s
population.
$22 billion food import bill unacceptable
Taking charge a few hours after his inauguration,
Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development,
Chief Audu Ogbeh pledged to reduce the import
burden of food in the country.
He said it was unacceptable that Nigeria spends
$22 billion on food importation yearly.
He said: “We have to challenge the situation
where certain interests outside the shores of our
country have taken us prisoners.
“I don’t know how anybody can explain importing
banana from Cameroon,” lamenting that Nigeria
still imports “$400 million worth of tomato from
India.”
Ogbeh said his ministry will have to carry a new
burden as oil has served Nigeria well though the
country did not manage the resource well.
He said: “So now the pressure is on
diversification of Nigerian economy to
agriculture. So we have to make it work.”
He said the ministry will intensify research and
marketing both home and abroad.
He attributed the 25 per cent increase in cancer
and kidney diseases to the poison that gets into
the food system even from packaging such as
using cellophane, which could cause cancer, to
wrap and sell moin-moin’
Abandoned rail projects to be completed
At the Ministry of Transportation, Rotimi
Amaechi promised to complete all abandoned rail
projects in the country, saying that a fully
functional rail system will ameliorate
transportation difficulties in addition to creating
employment.
The minister who was accompanied by Minister
of State, Aviation, Hadi Sirika, and the Permanent
Secretary, Zakari Sabiu, said that he had come
to work in line with the change mantra of the
Buhari administration. While saying that it would
no longer be business as usual, he called on staff
and management of the ministry to give their
best at all time.
He stressed that corrupt practices of all kinds
would not be tolerated, adding that anyone
caught would be punished.
“I believe in principles. I don’t like protocol.
When I say I hate corruption I mean it. I don’t
give bribe and I don’t take either. If you want to
relate with me don’t give me money and don’t
ask me for money. Just do your job creditably.
Don’t see me on the road and run away. I am not
as bad as they make it seem. Don’t steal, let’s
be friends. I am here to learn.
“Rail transport is the easiest thing to achieve if
you get capable hands. We are going to work
towards completing abandoned rail projects.
They will help create employment and ease mass
transportation of people,” he said.
The new Minister of Environment, Mrs. Amina
Mohammed gave directors and other workers, a
five-month marching order to tackle problems
associated with climate change and environment
facing Nigerians.
She stated that the country was engulfed with
various environmental problems and “these are
very critical in our mandate,” adding: “We have a
time frame as well as build on the successes of
the immediate minister.
To achieve these, we are going to involve and
engage other stakeholders, especially those
groups that really matter to deliver our mandate.
We are here for solutions as Mr. President has
given us a marching order.”
The minister warned that it would not be
business as usual, adding that those who have
ideas that can move the ministry forward should
bring them up.
Ado-Ekiti agag for Fayemi
Ado-Ekiti, the home state of Minister of Solid
Minerals, Kayode Fayemi went agog yesterday as
All Progressives Congress (APC) supporters
celebrated his inauguration.
The State Deputy Chairman of the party Kemi
Sola Olaleye, expressed confidence in the
competence of the former governor to take
charge in a ministry that could be the second
biggest money earner in the nation’s economy
after petroleum.
Describing Fayemi as “a dependable and patriotic
leader who would add value to the change
agenda of President Buhari’s administration,”
Olaleye urged prayers for the success of the
minister in his new assignment, assuring that
Fayemi would once again prove his mettle as an
agent of change agenda to lift the country out of
poverty.
“I have no doubt that JKF will demonstrate his
talents again in the handling of his briefs in his
new appointment,” Olaleye said.
President Muhammadu Buhari (eighth left), Vice
President Yemi Osinbajo (seventh left) and new
ministers at their inauguration at State House,
Abuja …yesterday PHOTO: PHILIP OJISUA
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