The Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has stated that Nigerians’ perception played a key role in President Bola Tinubu’s decision to dismiss five ministers from his cabinet.

On Wednesday, Tinubu approved the reassignment of 10 ministers to new portfolios, relieved five of their duties, and nominated seven new individuals for Senate confirmation.

The President also renamed the Ministry of Niger Delta Development as the Ministry of Regional Development, scrapped the Ministry of Sports Development, and merged the Ministries of Tourism and Arts and Culture, forming the Federal Ministry of Art, Culture, Tourism, and the Creative Economy.

The ministers dismissed from their roles include the Minister of Women Affairs, Uju Kennedy-Ohanenye; Minister of Tourism, Lola Ade-John; Minister of Education, Tahir Mamman; Minister of Youth Development, Dr Jamila Bio Ibrahim; and the Minister of State for Housing and Urban Development, Abdullahi Gwarzo.

Providing more details on the cabinet reshuffle, Onanuga explained that the decision to remove these ministers was based on public perception and empirical data.

According to Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Policy and Coordination, Hadiza Bala Usman, introduced a technological system that allowed Nigerians to assess the performance of the ministers.

“It wasn’t done arbitrarily. Hadiza Bala Usman brought in technology, asking Nigerians to rate the ministers. So, the removal of these ministers was based on empirical facts, shaped by the public’s perception. The scorecards were filled out by the people, and the President acted on those results,” Onanuga said in an interview on Wednesday night.

“It wasn’t just about meeting the President’s expectations but also the public’s. A few weeks ago, during a cabinet meeting, the President urged the ministers to inform Nigerians of their accomplishments, because, according to him, there was a public perception that the government wasn’t performing. The government believed it was, but the ministers weren’t effectively communicating their work,” he added.

Onanuga further mentioned that in addition to dismissing the ministers, the administration is working to reduce the cost of governance.

“The President will soon announce measures to reduce government expenditure, starting with the ministers. I don’t want to pre-empt the details, but the cuts will be significant to demonstrate the government’s seriousness in reducing the cost of governance.”

“The government is aware of what’s required to address the country’s challenges. It’s not about the size of the government, but about having many competent hands to drive its agenda. You will hear announcements soon about how the government plans to cut the cost of running its affairs,” he concluded.

Veteran Nollywood actress, Sola Sobowale, has taken to social media to express excitement as one of her daughters is set to tie the knot.

The thespian announced the upcoming wedding in a post via her Instagram page, accompanied by pictures of the love birds.

Sola Sobowale said she had gained a son, adding that her daughter had found someone to spend the rest of her life with.

She wrote, “My baby found her forever person. My heart is overwhelmed with joy. I’ve gained a son. A wonderful inspiring young man. All the glory be to God. I love you both.”

Barr. Uju Kennedy Ohanenye, a former Minister of Women Affairs, has expressed her gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, First Lady Remi Tinubu, and Nigerians for the opportunity to serve the country following her removal from the cabinet.

Kennedy-Ohanenye was among several ministers relieved of their duties on Wednesday, including Prof. Tahir Mamman (Education), Mohammed Gwarzo (State for Housing), Jamila Ibrahim (Youth Development), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), and suspended Minister of Humanitarian Affairs, Betta Edu, who was replaced.

In a statement released on Thursday, Kennedy-Ohanenye said: “I write to express my sincere gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the opportunity to serve as a Minister of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It has been an honor and a privilege to contribute to the development of our nation.

“I would also like to extend my heartfelt thanks to Senator Oluremi Tinubu, the First Lady of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, for her invaluable guidance and support during my tenure as Minister of Women Affairs. Her kindness and encouragement were instrumental to my success.

“To the people of Nigeria, I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support. Your trust and confidence in me have been a constant source of inspiration.

“I remain committed to serving my country and will continue to do my utmost to contribute to its progress and prosperity.”

The Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, has acknowledged that Nigeria’s economy is weak.

The presidential aide stated that without the current reforms, Nigeria’s economy could have deteriorated to a state similar to that of Somalia, an East African country.

Naija News reports that Onanuga made these remarks on Thursday in response to the widespread public concern regarding the economic difficulties resulting from certain policies implemented by the administration of President Bola Tinubu.

He noted that Nigerians have exhibited considerable impatience in awaiting the outcomes of the government’s reform initiatives.

While recognizing the fragility of the nation’s economy, Onanuga emphasized that the ongoing economic reforms present an opportunity for Nigeria to transition into a more productive economic landscape.

“Recently, I have been reading several reports about Vision 2010 and Vision 202.

“All those reports showed that our economy has been very efficient, very weak and if we don’t do what we are doing today, one day, we may end up like Somalia.

“Our economy is very weak and what the government is doing today through these reforms is to create an opportunity for us to be a productive economy. Nigerians have been consuming and the government has been subsidizing these consumptions”, Daily Post quoted Onanuga saying in a recent chat.

‘Petroleum Sector Not Doing Well, Tinubu Can Not Be Petroleum Minister’ – Aigbe

Meanwhile, following the recent reshuffle of President Bola Tinubu‘s cabinet, Austin Aigbe, Regional Advocacy Lead and ECOWAS Liaison Officer for the West Africa Democracy Solidarity Network, has emphasized the critical need for the appointment of a substantive minister to lead Nigeria’s floundering petroleum sector.
In an interview with ARISE NEWS on Thursday, Aigbe discussed the implications of the cabinet changes, particularly for the vital energy sector.

Aigbe commended the president’s initiative to scrutinize and modify the cabinet structure, noting, “It’s good when you interrogate the system. You have to look at where the pitfalls are.”

He pointed out that the petroleum sector, a crucial component of Nigeria’s economy, currently lacks a dedicated minister to guide and rejuvenate its operations amidst ongoing challenges.

The advocacy leader stressed the importance of having a focused and competent leader at the petroleum ministry’s helm to navigate the industry’s complexities and spearhead necessary reforms.

The Chairman of the National Electoral Commission (NEC) from 1989 to 1993, Professor Humphrey Nwosu, has died.

NEC is now known as the Independent National Electoral Commission.

Nwosu, who was born on October 2, 1941, died in a hospital in Virginia, United States of America.

Following his appointment by then dictator Ibrahim Babangida, Nwosu conducted the June 12, 1993 election, which was seen as the freest and fairest election till date in Nigeria.

The presidential election was won by Chief Moshood Abiola, the candidate of the Social Democratic Party, defeating Bashir Tofa, the candidate of the National Republican Convention.

Nwosu's commission introduced the novel Option A4 voting system and the Open ballot system.

Nwosu had released many of the election results when he was ordered by the Babangida military regime to stop further announcement.

In July 2024, the House of Representatives called on President Bola Tinubu to immortalise Nwosu.

The lawmakers wanted him immortalised for conducting the election adjudged as the freest and most credible in post-independence Nigeria.

The founder and Chief Executive Officer of Air Peace, Allen Onyema has disclosed that he wept when he bought his first aircraft.

He stated this in a video shared by the airline on social media to commemorate its 10th anniversary.

Sharing the emotional moment, the Air Peace boss said he was shocked that he could afford to buy an aircraft considering his humble beginnings.

He narrated, “When I look back and I remember the day I bought my first aircraft that was a Dornier 328s. I was in Monaco when we negotiated the sale, myself and Engr. Gbolahan Abatan. We went to Monaco to negotiate it and we took the delivery of the aircraft from the airport in Nice, France.

“We flew to Bournemouth in England. I cried, I wept. When we were flying, I just sat in the aircraft, looked down and said to myself, ‘So, I bought this aircraft?’

“Growing from a humble beginning and getting to where one was, the feeling was very emotional the moment I was crying on the aircraft and Gbolahan was by my side and there.

“It was over the international waters that we signed the delivery of the aircraft before we landed in Bournemouth in England. So, even today, the motivation and only satisfaction I get is when I get to the airport and see our planes taking off and landing.

“It raises my adrenaline. I like seeing it. I like going on the street and looking towards the sky seeing an aircraft and it is Air Peace. It is addictive.”

Bayo Onanuga, Special Adviser to President Bola Tinubu on Information and Strategy, has explained the decision not to dismiss Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, amidst allegations of his involvement in sponsoring bandits and insecurity.

During an appearance on Arise TV on Wednesday, Onanuga described these claims as “mere allegations and fabrications that are not true.”

When asked why Matawalle remained in the cabinet following the recent reshuffle, which saw some ministers relieved of their duties, Onanuga acknowledged the circulation of various stories regarding Matawalle’s alleged connections to insecurity in Zamfara State, noting that these allegations have even reached the President.

However, he emphasised that the National Security Adviser’s office investigated these claims and found them to be false, asserting that Matawalle is fit to perform his duties.

“As far as I know, most of those things are just mere allegations. I think in one of them, I got something like that I sent to the NSA, I said have you heard about this? and he said no, we have proved a lot to those things that they are not correct, they are not true. People are just bringing out all kinds of fake things and allegations about someone.

“And that is why the man is there. Even the President has heard so many stories about him. For him to be there, shows like I said, some of those things have been probed, and they are found not to be true,” Onanuga explained, clarifying the rationale behind the President’s decision not to dismiss Matawalle.

President Bola Tinubu wielded his big stick on Wednesday, and like a surgeon in a theatre, he used his surgical knife, yanked off five ministers, redeployed 10 and appointed seven fresh nominees as ministers to replace the sacked ones as well as two others — Betta Edu who was initially suspended, and Simon Lalong who left his cabinet to join the Senate.

Tinubu, ex-Lagos governor, appointed 48 ministers in August 2023, three months after his inauguration. The Senate immediately screened and confirmed the ministers. One of the ministers, Betta Edu, was suspended in January while ex-Plateau State governor, Simon Lalong, resigned and moved to the upper legislative chamber.

There have been growing calls for the President to reshuffle his cabinet as many Nigerians are not impressed by the performance of some of the ministers, especially in the face of unprecedented inflation, excruciating economic situation and rising insecurity.

Despite the shake-up on Wednesday, 31 ministers were not affected; they were not sacked or redeployed.

They are:

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