“I Will Remain Minister Of Petroleum.''- President Muhammadu Buhari Told New York Reporters, As The Hype Over The Ministerial List Continues

September is here and will end to day and President Buhari is yet to confirm his cabinet, four months after he assumed office as the President Federal Republic of Nigeria. And as he continued to announce his governmental intentions while on foreign trips, here is another one.

 

President Buhari while addressing some select reporters in New York on Tuesday, after addressing a Global Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism, he will remain the Minister of Petroleum.

He said the step is being taken as part of efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s oil industry which is said to be plagued by corruption, massive fraud, and crude oil theft

He said:  “I will remain Minister of Petroleum. “I will appoint a minister of State for Petroleum”.

Buhari restated his determination to sanitise Nigeria’s oil industry and free it from corruption and create more transparency.

He said that his first step in sanitizing the petroleum sector has already begun with the appointment of a new management for the NNPC and said that the prosecution of those who misappropriated NNPC’s funds is already in the works.

Buhari, who took office at the end of May promising to fight corruption, has made it clear he wants to overhaul the oil sector in Africa’s biggest economy, which provides the government with about 70% of its revenue.

 

You would recall that former President Olusegun Obasanjo, for most part of his tenure, was also the minister of petroleum.

Mr. Buhari had promised to name his cabinet before the end of September.

 

Since Wednesday is the last day of the month, the President is widely expected to forward names of his minister to the National Assembly today. Names forwarded to the National Assembly would be screened and approved by the Senate before they are sworn in.