In a recent interview, President Bola Tinubu made significant announcements regarding changes in Nigeria’s governmental structure. He revealed that he has dissolved both the Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of Sports Development. Instead, he has proposed the establishment of a Ministry of Regional Development, which will supervise various regional development commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission, and North East Development Commission.
Bayo Onanuga, the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, confirmed these changes on his verified social media account. He also noted that the National Sports Commission will now assume the responsibilities previously held by the Ministry of Sports.
During a Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting held in Abuja, President Tinubu presided over discussions that culminated in the decision to merge the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy. This meeting marked the President’s first since returning from a two-week working vacation the weekend prior.
The FEC meeting, which took place in the Council Chambers, saw most members in attendance, although a few were absent due to national assignments. Notably, Vice-President Kashim Shettima was attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in Apia, Samoa, while other cabinet members—including the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy Wale Edun, Foreign Affairs Minister Yusuf Tuggar, Aviation and Aerospace Development Minister Festus Keyamo, Power Minister Adebayo Adelabu, Environment Minister Professor Joseph Utsev, and the Federal Capital Territory Minister Nyesom Wike—were also unavailable for the session.
Just before the FEC meeting started, President Tinubu formally swore in Dr. Abdullahi Usman Bello as the new Chairman of the Code of Conduct Bureau (CCB). Following his swearing-in, Bello shared his determination to combat corruption through the agency, which serves as Nigeria’s main anti-corruption body.
