Tag: Nigeria newspaper

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday swore in seven female ministers, out of the 43 appointed.

The following are the names of the seven female ministers and their portfolios:

Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Disaster Management, Hajia Sadiya Umar-Farouk.

Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment, Hajiya Maryam Katagun.

Minister of State for Transport, Senator Gbemisola Saraki.

Read Also: Be relentless, Buhari tells ministers

Minister of State for Environment, Sharon Ikeazu.

Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajiya Zainab Ahmed.

Minister of Women Affairs and Social Development, Dame Pauline Tallen.

Minister of State for FCT, Rahmatu Tijjani.

The ministers were inaugurated alongside their male counterparts by President Muhammadu Buhari at the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday.

(NAN)

Former Governor of Bayelsa State and Minister of State for Petroleum, Chief Timipre Sylva, has decided not to contest the forthcoming November 16 governorship election in the state, it has been learnt.

It was learnt that Sylva, who was sworn-in as Minister by President Muhammadu Buhari, was backing another chieftain of the party, David Lyon, for the governorship ticket of the All Progressives Congress (APC).

Only six aspirants obtained the party’s N22.5million expression of interest and nomination forms and Lyon, who is a key player in the oil and gas industry and major financier of the APC in the state, was listed as one of them.

Others are a former Minister of State for Agriculture, Senator Heineken Lokpobiri; former Resident Electoral Commissioner (REC) Frankland Briyai; a founding member of the APC Preye Aganaba; former Commissioner of Police Deseye Poweigha and Chief CK Amgbare.

Lyon, who hails from Southern Ijaw Local Government Area, was at the ABUJA headquarters of the APC to submit his forms.

It was gathered that the latest decision of Sylva altered political permutation in the state as other aspirants in the APC and the leadership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) were said to be reviewing their earlier strategies.

Read Also; Timipre Sylva and APC chances in Bayelsa governorship election

Confirming the development, one of the aides to Sylva, who spoke in confidence, said the choice of Lyon was borne out of the desire to win the forthcoming election.

“Lyon has the popularity. He is also from Southern Ijaw and he is liked not only by people from Southern Ijaw but also by people in other local government areas. He has built bridges through his philanthropic work.

“Besides, the APC must present a popular and acceptable candidate to withstand the PDP in Bayelsa. Lyon is our candidate and I know he will win the ticket soon”.

Also, Sylva’s ministerial portfolio attracted celebrations in the state as messages poured in to congratulate him.

APC women, who were dressed in colorful outfits, were seen at the state’s secretariat of the party dancing in celebration.

Alh. Lai Mohammed, who was on Wednesday inaugurated as Minister of Information and Culture, has officially resumed at his post, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports.

Shortly after the inauguration of the 43 Ministers of the Federal Republic by President Muhammadu Buhari, in Abuja, Mohammed stepped into his office building at the Federal Secretariat at about 2:10 p.m.

Read Also: PHOTOS: Tinubu, Oshiomhole, others in Abuja for swearing-in of ministers

Workers in the ministry were seen in a joyous mood congratulating him on his re-appointment, as the 14th minister of Information and Culture.

Those that accompanied him to the office included: Mr Samson Makunjuola, Information Officer of the ministry, Alh. Bashir Bolarinwa, Chairman, All Progressives Congress (APC) Kwara, and some directors in the ministry.

NAN reports that Mohammed is the immediate past Minister of Information in Buhari’s last administration.

By his re-appointment, Mohammed retains his former portfolio as Information and Culture minister.

Lagos State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Wednesday swore-in Hon. Justice Kazeem Olanrewaju Alogba as the 17th Chief Judge, CJ, of the state.

The swearing-in ceremony took place at the Lagos House, Alausa, Ikeja; Alogba has served in acting capacity for almost three months and was confirmed by the state Assembly on Tuesday.

Speaking after the oath-taking ceremony, the governor said his assumption of office as the substantive CJ will bring a new and glorious chapter in the history of justice administration in Lagos state and ” will further consolidate and advance the cause of justice delivery for the benefit of all”.

Sanwo-Olu assured the CJ of the total support and cooperation of the Executive because a greater Lagos which is the dream of his administration can not be achieved without an important and independent judicial system.

“The task before us is to build on the achievements that have brought accolades to the states’ judicial system and I have no doubt that you have what it takes to move Lagos to the desired height”, Sanwo-Olu told Alogba.

According to the governor, Lagosians expect so much because “everything we have now is brand new, brand new administration with a brand new governor, Chief Judge, Exco, 9th House of Assembly, everything is new with new visions, competence, energy, zeal etc.

“You are a very credible individual who has been part of the landmark reforms in the state judiciary and the goal is to ensure speedy delivery of justice and expansion of the judiciary; we must continue to pursue that objective because it is the only way of assuring the citizens of our desire to make life better for all”.

Sanwo-Olu assured the Chief Judge that he has taken note of all his request to put the judiciary in a better standing to deliver, promising the request will be attended to within the available resources.

Read Also; Lagos Assembly confirms Alogba as Chief Judge

“The citizens are expecting so much from us and I believe Lagosians will get things that have never happened before because we are brand new”.

The governor assured that the three arms of government will work resolutely together and will not shy away from delivering dividends of democracy to citizens, and “Lagosians, Nigerians and Africans will be better for it.

“We want you to take Lagos judiciary to a height never seen before and in doing this we shall give you all the necessary support and together we will all see smarter Lagos”, Sanwo-Olu said.

In his vote of assurance earlier, Alogba thanked the governor “because I consider myself fortunate to be sworn-in by a brand new and quintessential governor and also screened by a veteran speaker and presented by a new Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice.”

He promised to work relentlessly with others to ensure he provides world-class standard administration of justice system in the state and also “work with your administration to ensure goals of the administration are achieved to make Lagos greater”, Alogba said.

The Chief Judge promised to pursue vigorously prison decongestion and ensure that inmates come out better and not worse.

Alogba promised to pursue zero tolerance on corruption, promising to fight corruption to the last.

“We will put necessary facilities in place for the administration of justice in the state, we also intend to improve on administration of criminal justice and also take all steps to ensure that human rights as enshrined in the constitution are protected”.

“I shall key-in to the aspiration and goals of the administration to ensure we have a smart judiciary by deploying information and technology facilities in rendering our services”.

He further promised better welfare for staff and to pursue vigorously staff training and skills acquisition for all category of staff saying an unhappy workforce can not achieve anything and without training nothing can be done.

He also solicited for more judges saying the workload on the present few judges was too much which is responsible for a huge backlog of cases pending in the courts.

He appealed to the governor for assistance in addressing all the demands and all that he wants to do to put the judiciary in a better standing.

Dignitaries present at the ceremony include, deputy governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat, speaker Lagos Assembly, Hon. Mudashiru Obasa, deputy speaker, Hon. Eshilokun Sanni, Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade, Chief Whip, Hon. Rotimi Abiru, Deputy Majority Leader, Him. Wahab Jimoh, Ayangburen of Ikorodu, Oba Kabiru Sotobi, Ojora of Ijoraland, Oba Fatai Aromire and Sugunmade of Ipakodo, Kabir Sotonwa etc.

Authorities at the Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) have just delisted two defunct banks- Skye Bank Plc and Fortis Microfinance Bank Plc, formally closing any window of shares exchange for the defunct banks.

The delisting was sequel to the decision of the National Council of the NSE, which had approved the delisting of the two defunct banks.

The NSE stated that the delisting was due to the revocation of the operating licenses of the defunct banks by their primary regulator, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN).

The CBN had on July 4, 2016 taken over the management of the Skye Bank by reconstituting the board of directors and management of the bank to pave way for a new team to take charge of the bank and resolve various issues that were perceived to be hindering its optimal performance.

The apex bank then gave the new board and management a clear mandate with particular focus areas to turn the institution around positively.

Read Also; NSE lists Greenwich ETF

The apex bank in July 2018 extended the tenure of the board of directors and management of Skye Bank for another two years till June 30, 2020. However, on September 21, 2018, the CBN revoked the operating license of Skye Bank and licensed Polaris Bank as a bridge bank to take over assets and liabilities of defunct Skye Bank.

The NSE had in November 2018 suspended trading on the shares of Fortis Microfinance Bank and five other companies after they failed to adhere to best corporate governance and extant post-listing requirements that make it mandatory for quoted companies to submit their financial statements within stipulated timelines.

President Muhammadu Buhari on Wednesday in Abuja inaugurated his new cabinet with majority of the re-appointed members of his first term cabinet retaining their posts.

Some other members of the old team who returned either had their jobs trimmed or got a raise in their responsibilities.

Alhaji Lai Mohammed returns to the Ministry of Information and Culture as Dr Ogbonnaya Onu returns to the Ministry of Science and Technology but unlike Mohammed, Onu is to be assisted by a Minister of State, Mr Mohammed Abdullahi.

Others who retained their positions are Alhaji Muhammed Bello (Federal Capital Territory) Adamu Adamu (Education), Dr Chris Ngige Labour and Employment), Geoffrey Onyeama (Foreign Affairs).

Alhaji Hadi Sirika , takes full charge as Minister of Aviation, while Mr Chibuike Amaechi is in-charge of Minister of Aviation in the Ministry of Transportation without the Aviation segment.

Read Also: Aregbesola, Dare, Talen, Amaechi, Dingyadi take oaths of allegiance

Malam Suleiman Adamu returns to the Ministry of Water Resources, while Zainab Ahmed is back to the Ministry of Finance.

Abubakar Malami retains his post as Minister of Justice and Attorney-General of the Federation and Mr Babatunde Fashola keeps the Ministry of Works and Housing without the Power segment.

Dr Ikechukwu Ogah, a fresh hand, is Minister of State, Mines and Steel Development; Godswill Akpabio (Minister of Niger Delta Affairs) and Mr Festus Keyamo is Minister of State for Niger Delta Affairs.

Mr Sabo Nanono is the Minister of Agriculture and Natural Resources; retired Maj.-Gen. Bashir Salihi Magash (Minister of Defence) and Ramatu Tijjani (Minister of State, FCT.)

Mrb Muhammed Madmud is Minister of Environment; Sharon Ikeazor (Minister of State, Environment) and Amb. Maryam Katagun is the Minister of State, Trade

Mr Timipre Sylva is the Minister of State, Petroleum, Mr George Akume is the Minister of Special Duties and International Affairs, while Mustapha Baba Shehuri is Minister of State, Agriculture and Natural Resources.