President Buhari Swears in New Ministers, Departs for Senegal

President of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari is set to leave Abuja Wednesday, July 6, for the International Development Association (IDA) for Africa Summit in Dakar, Senegal.

The President’s departure is coming in spite of an escalation in terror attacks across the country.

Buhahri reshuffled his cabinet, assigning new portfolios to some ministers.

This was announced at the ongoing Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

The president also swore in the seven ministers recently screened and confirmed by the Senate.

Among the ministers sworn in are: Ademola Adewole Adegoroye – Ondo State, Odum Odih – Rivers State, Henry Ikechukwu Ikoh – Abia State, and Umana Okon Umana – Akwa Ibom State.

Others are Goodluck Nnana Opiah – Imo State, Egwumakama Joseph Nkama – Ebonyi State and Umar Ibrahim El-Yakub – Kano State.

Before the swearing in, a minute silence was observed in honour of Mohammed Barkindo, the 4th Secretary-General of the Organisation of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC), who died on Tuesday night.

Yesterday, terrorists opened fire on a convoy of President Buhari’s advance team in Katsina. The team was heading for Daura, the president’s hometown when gunmen ambushed them.

In yet another Katsina attack, terrorists numbering over 200 killed an Assistant Commissioner of Police after hours of gun battle.

Same Tuesday night, terrorists believed to be members of Bokoharam broke into Kuje Prison in the nation’s capital, shooting sporadically and freeing over 600 inmates, including high-profile Boko Haram suspects.

Minister of Defence, Bashir Magashi, had said all Boko Haram suspects in custody escaped during the attack.

In a statement on Wednesday, Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Buhari will be accompanied on the trip by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Geoffery Onyeama; Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed; as well as Industry, Trade and Investment, Adeniyi Adebayo.

Others on the entourage are : National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Amb. Ahmed Rufa’i Abubakar; Director-General, Debt Management Office, Patience Oniha; the Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Godwin Emefiele; Director- General, and the Managing Director of the Bank of Industry, Olukayode Pitan.

He said IDA is an institution of the World Bank Group, deepening its support to drive a resilient recovery for countries hit by the global crises of climate and COVID -19.

According to Shehu, at the High Level event slated for Thursday, July 7 and hosted by President Macky Sall of the Republic of Senegal, President Buhari is expected to join other African leaders in an open Dialogue on Development Challenges and priorities as well as transformational initiatives that will lead to an outcome document, the Dakar Declaration.

The presidential spokesman said this commitment is expected to chart the way forward for the transformation of the economies of these nations in partnership with the World Bank/IDA.

According to him, “Topics slated for discussion include: Financing for Recovery and Economic Transformation in Africa; Agriculture, Livestock and Food Security; Human Capital; Digital and Technological Innovation; and Energy Transition and Climate Change.”