Gusau, Obanikoro to run Nigeria’s defence ministry

President Goodluck on Wednesday swore in 11 Ministers whose nominations were approved by the Senate about three weeks ago just before the commencement of the weekly meeting of Federal Executive Council, FEC on Thursday.

The ceremony was witnessed by relatives of the new ministers, the older ministers, top echelon of People Democratic Party and other top government officials.

While swearing in the new Ministers, the President also revealed that he is going to send in a new set of ministerial nominees to the National Assembly next week.

The Ministers who were sworn in and their portfolios include: Musiliu Obanikoro(Lagos) who was named Minister of State Defence; Mohammed Wakil (Borno) as Minister of State Power; Abduljelili Adesiyan (Osun) who is Minister of Police Affairs; Aminu Wali (Kano) who was named Minister of Foreign Affairs; Mrs Akon Eyakenyi (Akwa Ibom) was named Minister of Land and Housing; Lawrencia Laraba Mallam (Kaduna State) who is now the Minister of Environment.

Also, Dr Tamuno Danagogo (Rivers) is the new Minister of Sports; Hajia Asabe Asmau Ahmed (Niger) will assist Akin Adesina as Minister of State Agriculture; former National Security Adviser, General Aliyu Gusau from Zamfara state is now the Minister of Defence; former governor of Adamawa state, Boni Haruna is the Minister of Youth Development; and Dr Khaliru Alhassan from Sokoto State is the Minister of State Health.

While swearing in the Ministers, the President urged them to see themselves as the servants of the people.

He added that the Ministers should only consider themselves as successes at the end of their tenure if they can introduce innovations and bring about positive changes in their various ministries at the end of their tenure.

He also urged them to avoid conflict with the other ministers and civil servants in their various Ministries.