PRESIDENT BUHARI SWEARS IN NIGERIA'S NEW MINISTERS

President Mohammadu Buhari has assigned portfolios to the newly constituted Federal Executive Government in Abuja Wednesday.

Former Lagos State Governor, Mr Babatunde Fashola, was announced as Minister of Works, Power and Housing.

And for Nigerians, this is key because the economy revolves around power, just as many want to see the roads fixed.

The Solid Mineral Ministry is headed by Dr. Kayode Fayemi, as the former Governor of Rivers State, Rotimi Amaechi, was also assigned Transportation and Aviation ministry.

Ministry of Labour and Employment is headed by Dr. Chris Ngige, while the Ministry of Finance is headed by the former Commissioner for Finance in Ogun State, Kemi Adeosun. 

List Of Ministers And Portfolios

Abubakar Malami (SAN) – Justice

Geoffrey Onyeama – Foreign Affairs

Khadija Abubakar Abba Ibrahim – State Minister of Foreign Affairs

Brigadier-General Muhammad Mansur Dan-Ali (rtd) – Defence

Adamu Adamu – Education

Professor Anthony Onwuka – State Minister of Education

Mrs Kemi Adeosun – Finance

Okechukwu Enelama – Industry, Trade and Investment

Aisha Abubakar – State Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

Senator (Dr.) Chris Ngige – Labour and Employment

Barrister James Ocholi – State Minister of Labour and Employment

Muhammodu Bello – Federal Capital Territory

Abdulrahman Bello Dambazau – Interior

Senator Udoma Udo Udoma – Budget and National Planning

Zainab Ahmed – State Minister of Budget and National Planning

Emmanuel Ibe Kachikwu – State Minister of Petroleum Resources

Babatunde Fashola (SAN) – Power, Works and Housing

Mustapha Baba Shehuri – State Minister of Power, Works and Housing

Chief Audu Innocent Ogbeh – Agricultural and Rural Development

Heineken Lokpobiri – State Minister of Agricultural and Rural Development

Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi – Transportation

Senator Hadi Sirika – State Minister of Aviation

Isaac Folorunso Adewole – Health

Dr. Osagie Ehanire – State Minister of Health

Senator Aisha Al-Hassan – Woman Affairs

Pastor Usani Uguru – Niger Delta

Claudius Omoleye Daramola – State Minister of Niger Delta

Barrister Adebayo Shittu – Communications

Lai Mohammed – Information

Amina Mohammed – Environment

Ibrahim Usman Jubril – State Minister of Environment

Engineer Suleiman Adamu – Water Resources

Barrister Solomon Dalong – Youth and Sports

Kayode Fayemi – Solid Minerals

Abubakar Bwari – Minister Of States of Solid Minerals

Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu – Science and Technology

SARAKI Submits List of Confirmed Ministers to President Buhari.

The Senate President, Bukola Saraki, on Tuesday formally presented the list of 36 ministerial nominees screened and confirmed by the Senate to President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja. 

Saraki arrived the seat of power about 3:00pm along with the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (Senate), Ita Enang and the Special Adviser to the President on National Assembly Matters (House of Representatives), Suleiman Kawu.

Saraki confirmed this on his Twitter handle, writing: “Today, I presented the confirmed list of ministers to Mr President.” On September 30, the president had submitted the first list of ministerial nominees containing 21 names to the senate president.

In October, he submitted another list containing 16 names to Saraki. However, he later withdrew the nomination of Musa Ibeto from Niger state owing to an administrative error. The senate confirmed all 36 nominees as ministers after a screening exercise that lasted five days.

Some of those confirmed as minister include Lai Mohammed, Babatunde Fashola, Kayode Fayemi, Ogbonnaya Onu, Audu Ogbeh, Ibe Kachikwu, Amina Mohammed and Chibuike Amaechi.

Others are Heineken Lokpobiri, Cladius Daramola, Adebayo Shittu, Shehuri Mustapha, Ocholi James, Adewole Folorunso, Bawa Bwari, Geoffrey Onyeama, Zainab Ahmed, Mansur Dan Ali, Usani Uguru, Okechukwu Enelamah, Anwuka Anthony, Musa Bello, Adamu Adamu, Khadija Bukar Abba Ibrahim and Aisha Abubakar

All eyes will now be on Wednesday’s meeting of the federal executive council, where President Buhari is expected to inaugurate the ministers.

Human Waste can Power a Million Homes - UN University

Biogas from human waste has the potential to generate electricity for millions of homes while improving health and protecting the environment, a UN University institute said on Tuesday.

The biogas potentially available from all the human waste in the world would be the equivalent of up to 9.5 billion dollars worth of natural gas a year.

This volume of waste could produce electricity for as many as 138 million homes, the U.N. Institute for Water, Environment and Health (UNU-INWEH) said in a study.

In low-income countries, the use of biogas – generated by bacteria breaking down the waste – could finance development, it said.

Breaking! Tribunal upholds Abia State Governorship Election

The Abia state Governorship Election Petition Tribunal has upheld the election of Okezie Ikpeazu as the duly elected Governor of the state. In its ruling delivered today in Aba, the tribunal dismissed the petion of the APGA candidate Alex Otti for lack of merit.

FORMER PENSION BOSS MAINA APPEARED IN ABUJA

The embattled former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT) Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina who was declared wanted by the Economic Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) on Monday has appeared in Abuja. He appeared Tuesday on a popular community Radio show Brekete Family hosted by the Ordinary Ahmed Isah. Mr Maina made live calls during the show where he maintained that he has done nothing wrong and wondered why the EFCC will declare him wanted. The EFCC spokes person Mr Wilson Uwujaren who called in during the show described Mr Maina as a fugitive. He said that if Maina is as innocent as he claims, he should come and clear his name in the law court. He however wondered why he has decided to evade justice only to call from an anonymous location. Abdulrasheed Maina has been charged with former Head of service Mr Oronsaye at the Federal High court in Abuja over allegations of  fraud, and diverting  pension fund for his personal use. Mr Wilson Uwujaren said Maina is wanted for his role in the fraudulent biometric contracts through which he and former Head of Service, Steve Oronsaye and two others allegedly stole over N2 billion of pension funds.

EFCC Confiscates Bullet proof Cars of Diezani's Associates

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has seized bullet-proof vehicles, huge cash and jewellery from five prominent Nigerians fingered in the money laundering allegation against former Petroleum Resources Minister Mrs Diezani Alison-Madueke.

EFCC and its British counterpart, National Crime Agency (NCA), are probing the suspects for allegedly conniving with Alison-Madueke to commit the crime, it was learnt yesterday.

The former minister was arrested in London on October 2 for alleged money laundering, bribery and corruption.

EFCC has restricted the movement of the ”high-profile” suspects to Nigeria, pending the conclusion of investigation.

Some of them may be extradited to the United Kingdom (UK), if the former minister is going to face trial.According to investigation, EFCC is still searching the companies and homes of more suspects linked with the former minister, following fresh clues.

A top source said: ‘’It is too early to declare whether they are guilty or not. But in line with international best practices, the EFCC has invoked the assets forfeiture clause in its Act to seize some choice bullet-proof vehicles, huge cash and jewellery from these suspects.

‘’The movement of the affected suspects has also been restricted to Nigeria pending the conclusion of investigation.

‘’The case at hand involves a high-net worth syndicate with tentacles across the strata of the society. But we are already cracking the investigation.’’

Asked if the suspects will be tried in Nigeria, the source added: ‘’It is uncertain or remote because the NCA has initiated a process in the UK, we will not want to duplicate the process.

‘’ If necessary, some of the suspects might be extradited to the UK for trial. This depends on NCA because EFCC is only collaborating with the agency.’’

It was learnt that some NCA officials are in the country to work with EFCC on the case.

A source said: ‘’Some officials of the NCA are in the country for collaboration with the EFCC on this investigation of the allegations against the ex-minister.

‘’The EFCC has more knowledge of the terrain than the NCA in tracking down some of these suspects.’’

Neither the EFCC nor the NCA was willing to speak on record last night.

Alison-Madueke and four others have been under investigation. On October 2, they appeared before the NCA team in the UK.

The names of the four remaining suspects are being kept under wraps in ‘’order not to jeopardise investigation.’’

The Nigeria Customs Service promotes 6 new DCGs, 8 ACGs

The Nigeria Customs Service has approved the appointment of six new Deputy Comptroller-Generals (DCP) and another six new Assistant Comptroller-Generals (ACP). The DCGs were formerly ACGs while the new ACGs were formerly Comptrollers. 

 

A senior officer in Nigeria Customs Service informed SKYTREND NEWs on telephone moments ago.. 

 

SKYTREND NEWS broke the news last week that all 5 DCGs has voluntarily and unanimously resigned their appointments in a one-page letter. 

 

34 other Senior Officers were also retired

in a massive reorganisation of the Customs Service.

 

Earlier today SKYTREND NEWS Correspondent was informed that a massive retirement is in place and will involve at least 1,200 Customs officers from various ranks who are already due for retirement.