True to the charge from the President, the 45 Ministers constituting the Federal Executive Council went to work immediately they were sworn in on Monday after a colourful ceremony n the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.

From the venue of the event, most of them proceeded to their assigned ministries to take charge, with some of them giving an insight of what to expect in the coming days, weeks and months. In the forefront of these was former Governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike who warned of massive demolition of buildings built on the green belt areas and sent a powerful message to owners of undeveloped plots.

Wike’s Press Briefing as FCT Minister

The swearing-in event was a parade of colours. Rainbow would possibly look like an alchemy. There were multiple variants of each colour, even President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s blue was different from Vice President Kashim Shettima’s blue.

The ministers – designate came to the Banquet hall of the Presidential villa with 135 invitees- each of them were allowed to invite three guests only.

Pursuant to Section 147(1)(2)&(3), President Tinubu forwarded 48 names of persons to be considered as Minister. 45 of the distinguished Nigerians scaled through the screening while three did not pass the litmus test of the senators.

They were sworn – in in nine batches of five. Their citations were read, they took the oath of office and allegiance, signed a register then shook hands with the President during which time they had photo opportunities with the Commander – in – Chief.

First to be called was Prince Lateef Fagbemi, Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) who shall serve as the Attorney General and Minister of Justice. He hails from Kwara state. Others in the first batch included Mrs Nkiruka Onyejeocha Esq., Minister of state, Labour and Employment (Abia), Hon. Eperipo Ekpo,Esq., Minister of state (Gas)(Akwa Ibom), Ms. Uju Kennedy Esq., Minister of Women Affairs(Anambra) and Prof. Tahir Mamman (SAN)(Adamawa)

Dr. Mohammed Ali Pate(Bauchi) Co – ordination Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ambassador Yusuf Maitama Tuggar(Bauchi), Minister of Foreign Affairs, Sen. Heineken Lokpobiri,(Bayelsa) Minister of State (Petroleum Resources,Oil),Prof Joseph Utsev(Benue) Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and Send. Abubakar Kyari ( Borno) Minister of Agriculture and Food Security.

The third batch include Dr. Betta Edu (Cross Rivers) Minister of Humanitarian Affair and Poverty Alleviation, Senator John Enoh (Cross Rivers) Minister of Sports,Mr. Festus Keyamo SAN (Delta) Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Dev., Sen. David Umahi,(Ebonyi) Minister of Works and Hon. Abubakar Momoh(Edo) Minister of Niger Delta Development.

Also, Mr Oladele Henry Alake (Ekiti) Minister of Solid Mineral Development,Chief Uche Nnaji (Enugu) Minister of Innovation,Science and Technology, Sent Said Alkali(Gombe) Minister of Transportation,Dr. Doris Aniente(Imo) Minister of Industry,Trade and Investment and Mohammed Badaru(Jigawa) Minister of Defence.

Shortly after, Alhaji Abdullahi Gwarzo(Kano) Minister of state, Housing and Urban development, Dr. Mahmoud Mariya(Kano)Minister of State FCT, Alhaji Ahmad Musa Dangiya(Katsina) Minister of Housing and Urban development,Ms. Hannatu Musawa ( Katsina) Minister for Arts and Sen. Abubakar Bagudu (Kebbi) Minister of Budget and Economic Planning.

In addition, Dr. Yusuf Tanko Sununu (Kebbi) Minister of state Education, Prince Shaibu Audu Abubakar (Kogi) Minister of Steel Development, Dr. Morufu Olatunji Alausa (Lagos)Minister of state, Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Lola Ade -John Minister of Tourism and Imman Suleiman(Nasarawa) Minister of state Police Affairs.

Also, Senator Aliyu Sabi Abdullahi,(Niger) Minister of state Agriculture and Food Security, Mr. Mohammed Idris,(Niger) Minister of Information and National Orientation,Dr. Salako Adebayi(Ogun) Ishaq, Minister of state Environment, Mr. Adebayi Adewale Edun Minister of Finance and co- ordinating Minister of the Economy and Dr Bosun Tijani(Ogun)Minster of Communication and Digital Economy.

Mr. Bunmi Tunji Ojo(Ondo) Minister of Interior, Mr Simeon Lalong (Plateau) Minister of Labour and Employment, and Mr. Nyesom Wike,Esq.(Rivers) Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, FCT.

Also, Bello Goronyo(Sokoto) Minister of state water resources, Mr. Uba Ahmadu(Taraba) Minister of state, Steel Development, Senator Ibrahim Geidam (Yobe) Police Affairs, Dr. Bello Mohammed Matawalle, (Zamfara) Minister of state Defence and Hon. Zephaniah Jisalo, Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs.

In his remarks after the ministers had taken their oath of office, President Tinubu who noted that each and everyone of the ministers were selected based on their track-record of achievements in public and private sector informed the ministers that their assignments began immediately.

He warned ministers that they are ministers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria stressing that:” You are not a minister of a region or a particular section or region”.

President Tinubu reminded the Ministers that Nigerians are expecting service delivery, accountability and integrity adding :” I will hold you to that standard. Your assignment began immediately”.

He said:” we are in this boat together even if it is a vehicle and I am the driver, the entire Nigeria is behind us. We must hold each other. We have to do the job to meet the expectations of all Nigerian”.