Tinubu scraps 2 ministries, merges others as much-awaited cabinet shake-up begins
President Bola Tinubu has merged two ministries into one, signaling the beginning of the much-expected cabinet reshuffle.
The President also dispensed with the Ministry of Niger Delta and the Ministry of Sports Development.
The reshuflement was confirmed in a statement by Bayo Onanuga, the president’s spokesperson on Wednesday, October 23, 2024.
Onangua said the decision was made during the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting on the same day.
He said Tinubu approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy, reflecting the government’s efforts to streamline sectors and inject efficiency.
At the same time, the National Sports Commission has been asked to take over the role of the Sports Ministry henceforth.
Tinubu approves creation of new ministry
Meanwhile, the President also consented to the creation of the Ministry of Regional Development to replace the Ministry of Niger Delta albeit with a bigger responsibility.
The newly-created ministry will oversee the activities of regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission (NDDC), North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North East Development Commission.
“President Tinubu and Federal Executive Council scrap Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of sports development.
“There will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, North East Development Commission.
“The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports.
The FEC also approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy,” Onanuga said.
As of the time of filing this report, it remains unknown what would happen to the ministers whose ministries were affected by the cabinet reshuffling as the Presidential spokesman was silent on that.
There have been calls for Tinubu to trim down his cabinet and remove some ministers who are considered to have failed to deliver on the administration’s Renewed Hope agenda.
