List of ministerial list appears to have been leaked without official authorisation

PRESIDENCY officials have indicated that the recently published list of ministerial appointees was an unapproved leak not sanctioned by President Muhammadu Buhari who had intended to name their portfolios during their inauguration.

Over the last two weeks, the Nigerian senate has been screening a list of 43 nominees submitted to it by President Buhari and early this week, they were all cleared. However, the portfolios they were assigned to were not mentioned but yesterday, a list was published, naming every nominee to an assigned position.

Responding to the list, Bashir Ahmaad, President Buhari’s special assistant on new media urged Nigerians to disregard any list of ministers’ portfolio making the rounds on social media. He added that the list will be officially announced by President Buhari during inauguration.

Mr Ahmad wrote on his Twitter page: “So someone makes a list of ministers-designate and assigned portfolio for them. The assigned list is now trending on WhatsApp as usual.

“Disregard any list please Nigerians. Portfolios will be announced by Mr President after their inauguration as ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”

The full list looks like this:

1. Festus Keyamo – Minister of Justice Attorney General

2. Geoffrey Onyeama – Minister of Foreign Affairs

3. Zainab Ahmed – Minister of Finance

4. Bashir Magashi – Minister of Defence

5. Adamu Adamu – Minister of Education

6. Sabo Nanono – Minister of Industry, Trade and Investment

7. Chris Ngige – Minister of Labour and Employment

8. Mohammed Bello – Minister of Federal Capital Territory

9. Ogbonnaya Onu – Minister of Science and Technology

10. Timipre Silva – Minister of Solid Minerals

11. Abubakar Malami – Minister of Interior

12. Rauf Aregbesola – Minister of Budget and National Planning

13. Babatunde Fashola – Minister of Power

14. Mohammed Abdullahi – Minister of Works

15. Mustapha Shehuri – Minister of Housing

16. George Akume – Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development

17. Rotimi Amaechi – Minister of Transportation

18. Osagie Ehanire – Minister of Health

19. Pauline Tallen – Minister of Women Affairs

20. Godswill Akpabio – Minister of Niger Delta Affairs

21. Lai Mohammed – Minister of Information

22. Muhammadu Mahmoud – Minister of Environment

23. Suleiman Adamu – Minister of Water Resources

24. Saleh Mamman – Minister of Youth and Sports

25. Hadi Sirika – Minister of Aviation

26. Mariam Katagum – Minister of State for Transportation

27. Clement Agba – Minister of State for Environment

28. Olamilekan Adegbite – Minister of State for Aviation

29. Adeleke Mamora – Minister of State for Foreign Affairs

30. Gbemisola Saraki – Minister of State for Solid Minerals

31. Ramatu Tijjani – Minister of State for Health

32. Sharon Ikeazo- Minister of State for Niger Delta

33. Muhammadu Dingyadi – Minister of State for Power

34. Okechukwu Ogah – Minister of State for Works

35. Tayo Alasoadura – Minister of State For Housing

36. Sunday Dare – Minister of State for Education

37. Zubairu Dada – Minister of State for Agriculture and Rural Development

38. Sa’adiya Farouk – Minister of State for Labour and Employment

39. Abubakar Aliyu – Minister of State for Budget and National Planning

40. Aliyu Pantami – Minister for Communications

41. Emeka Nwajiuba – Minister of State for Industry, Trade and Investment

42. Goddy Jedy-Agba – Minister of State for Petroleum

43. Richard Adebayo – Minister of State For Defence