I Will Be Petroleum Minister, Says Buhari

As the nation awaits President Muhammadu Buhari’s ministerial list, the President on Tuesday named Nigeria’s petroleum minister.

And that is himself.

.Addressing some select reporters in New York on Tuesday, after addressing a Global Leaders’ Summit on Countering ISIL and Violent Extremism, the President said he would personally head the Ministry of Petroleum Resources in the new cabinet. His words:

“I wil remain Minister of Petroleum.

“I will appoint a minister of State for Petroleum”.

According to him, this step is being taken as part of efforts to sanitise Nigeria’s oil industry, which is said to be plagued by corruption, massive fraud, and crude oil theft.

Mr. Buhari restated his determination to sanitise Nigeria’s oil industry and free it from corruption and shady deals. He said that the first step in this direction had already been taken with the appointment of a new management for the NNPC and its subsequent reorganisation.

The President said the prosecution of those who misappropriated NNPC’s revenue under past administrations would soon commence.