- By Halimah Olamide & Kamil Opeyemi
There were high expectations on Monday as 45 ministers assumed offices amidst huge promises being made after their swearing in ceremony in Abuja.
President Bola Tinubu and his vice, Kashim Shettima, watched as members of his newly constituted cabinet took oaths of offices shaking hands with him afterwards as they filed out to their respective ministries to commence work.
Henineken Lokpobri, Minister of state for Petroleum Resources, while resuming in his office on Monday, said he has only one agenda.
He said, ”
Lokpobiri, while stating that he believed in action, and would spend more time in the field, also promised to work together with the regulatory agencies and stakeholders to boost oil production for the benefits of Nigerians.
“I have got more energy, and I have come to utilise that energy to revamp the petroleum sector.
“I am here with one agenda, which is to increase oil production and in order to increase it, we need to work together to achieve the desired results.
“I am here to provide the leadership so that we can go to the Creeks and resolve all the problems,” he assured.”
The new Minister of Aviation and Aero-Development, Barr Festus Keyamo, said the President expected so much from him hence the need for him to do the right thing and achieve the goal of his coming there.
According to him, the effective collaboration with the staff will enhance maximum output.
“Thank you for the warm welcome. The President did not send me here by mistake. I think he has clear ideas as why he sent me here. I will need your maximum cooperation to make us succeed.
“ I have read your roadmap developed in 2016, read it thoroughly, point for point. Our intension is not to disrupt things that have been done so well. Government is a continuum.
“If there are things that have not been done properly within the road map, we may look at them again, “ he said.
The minister, however, said he might add to the roadmap but not to pull down the roadmap or tear it down to start over again.
Keyamo , who said he liked the aviation roadmap structure, stated that he would like to know the stage of its objectives and achievements.
“Like I said, government is a continuum, it is the same party that is in power. There are things that have been done properly well. There are things that have not been done properly well.
“Things that are still in the pipeline, we will look at all of these. My intention is to get my briefings within the few days or weeks. We will do this thoroughly as we can.
“ We will develop our ideals and take it to the President for approval so that we can kick off. That is what I intend to do here,“ the minister said.
Minister of Labour and Employment, Simon Lalong, said he would fight for a new minimum wage just as he promised to ensure that other palliatives are in place to cushion the effects of fuel subsidy removal.
Already, former Governor of Rivers state and now Minister of FCT, Nyesom Wike, has sent signals of the colour of things to come with illegal structures in Abuja and satellite towns.
He said is prepared to step on toes as houses will be pulled down if they are found to have contravened regulations.