News
Key portfolios for Edun, Alake, Oyetola, Fagbemi, Adelabu
Ahead of Monday’s inauguration of the Federal Executive Council (FEC) by President Bola Tinubu, the Presidency last night released portfolios of the 45 ministers-designate cleared by the Senate.
Three nominees – former Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai (Kaduna), former All Progressives Congress (APC) Women Leader Stella Okotete (Delta) and former Taraba State Governor Abubakar Danlandi (Taraba) – were not cleared, which reduced the list of nominees to 45
Nobody has been assigned to the Ministry of Niger Delta.
Also, the Ministry of Environment and Ecological Management remains vacant, but the position is reserved for the eventual nominee from Kaduna State.
Also not assigned is the Ministry of Petroleum Resources. During the last administration, President Muhammadu Buhari held the portfolio.
New ministries have been created while some existing ministries were split to accommodate the ministers.
Thirty-two ministers and 13 ministers of state will form the new FEC.
The designated Minister of Finance, Mr. Olawale Edun will also serve as the Coordinating Minister of the Economy. His duties will include leading the economic team of the government.
Among those in the team will be former Kebbi State Governor Atiku Bagudu who has been designated as Minister of Budget and Planning.
Another major nomination is that of Prof. Ali Pate who is the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare. He is supported by Dr. Tunji Alausa, who is the Minister of State.
Former Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike takes the responsibility as Minister of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT).
Legal giant Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) is designated as Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice.
Nigeria’s ambassador to Germany Yusuf Maitama Tuggar will work as Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Lagos lawyer Festus Keyamo (SAN) will be the Minister of Aviation and Aerospace Development.
Former Director-General of the Nigeria Law School Prof. Tahir Maman will be Minister of Education. Yusuf Sununu will be the Minister of State Education.
Former Jigawa State Governor Abubakar Badaru will serve as Minister of Defence. Another former Governor Bello Mattawale is the Minister of State Defence.
Former Plateau State Governor Simon Bako Lalong will be the Minister of Labour and Employment.
Outgoing House of Representatives member Nkiruka Onyejeocha will be Minister of State, Labour and Employment.
Former Ebonyi State Governor Dave Umahi will hold the Works portfolio and a former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Mr. Adebayo Adelabu will be in charge of Power.
Former Osun State Governor Adegboyega Oyetola will be in charge of Transportation with Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo handling the newly created Ministry of Marine and Blue Economy.
The Ministry of Communication and Digital Development will be headed by IT expert Bosun Tijani.
Media expert Dele Alake has been posted to the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development.
Former Yobe State Governor Ibrahim Geidam will be in charge of Police Affairs. Imaan Sulaiman-Ibrahim is the Minister of State for Police Affairs.
Saidu Alkali will serve as Minister of Interior.
Blueprint publisher Muhammed Idris will be the Minister of Information and National Orientation.
Minister of State for the FCT is Mairiga Mahmud; and Minister of State, Water Resources and Sanitation is Bello Goronyo.
The Steel Development portfolio goes to Maigari Ahmadu. The Minister of Steel Development is Shuaibu Audu.
Minister of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Affairs is Zephaniah Jisalo.
Joseph Utsev is the Minister of Water Resources and Sanitation and Aliyi Sabi Abdullahi is the Minister of State Agriculture and Food Security.
Others are Abubakar Kyari (Agriculture and Food Security), Ishak Salah (Minister of State, Environment and Ecological Management), Lola Ade-John (Tourism), Doris Anite (Industry, Trade and Investment), Uche Nnaji (Innovation Science and Technology), Uju Kennedy (Women Affairs), Abubakar Momoh (Youth), Betta Edu (Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation), Ekperikpe Ekpo (Minister of State, Gas Resources), Heineken Lokpobiri (Minister of State, Petroleum Resources) and John Enoh (Sports Development).
On the list are Hannatu Musawa (Art, Culture and Creative Economy), Ahmed Dangiwa (Housing and Urban Development) and Abdullahi Gwarzo (Minister of State, Housing and Urban Development).
A new documentary on the life and political struggle of the late Chief Moshood Kashimawo Olawale (MKO) Abiola is set to premiere in Nigerian cinemas in October.
Titled MKO, the 108-minute film is directed by Ose Oyamendan and produced with American documentary filmmaker Mark Jonathan Harris. It explores the annulment of the June 12, 1993, presidential election, widely regarded as free and fair, Abiola’s subsequent detention, and the controversial circumstances surrounding his death in custody in 1998.
The documentary features interviews with key figures including former military rulers Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka, Abiola’s running mate Baba Gana Kingibe, members of the Abiola family, journalists, and diplomats.
Oyamendan, who worked as a young journalist during the June 12 crisis, has described the film as an investigative documentary that examines Nigeria’s unfinished democratic journey. It had its world premiere earlier this year at the Sheffield DocFest in the United Kingdom.
The Nigerian cinema release is scheduled for early October, with some reports linking the premiere to Independence Day on October 1.
The Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB) has released the 2026 Unified Tertiary Matriculation Examination (UTME) results of underage candidates for viewing.
In a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja by the Board’s Public Communication Adviser, Dr Fabian Benjamin, JAMB defined an underage candidate for the 2026 admission exercise as any candidate who will be less than 16 years old as at September 30, 2026.
Benjamin said the results were released primarily to enable candidates and their parents or guardians to know their performance in the examination. However, he stressed that the release does not confer eligibility for admission on all underage candidates.
According to him, the results cannot be used for admission or any other official purpose, except by candidates who satisfy the stringent requirements prescribed for exceptionally performing underage candidates.
Candidates can check their results by sending “RESULT” to 55019 or 66019 using the same SIM card with which they registered for the UTME.
JAMB reiterated that only underage candidates who demonstrate exceptional academic ability and maturity will be considered for admission through a rigorous, multi-stage assessment process. Key requirements include a minimum UTME score of 320, at least 80 per cent performance in relevant Senior Secondary School Certificate Examination (SSCE) subjects where applicable, satisfaction of the Post-UTME requirements of their chosen institutions, and a final assessment conducted by experts.
Veteran journalist Mr. Ohi Odiai and his wife, Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai, today mark their 17th wedding anniversary, a milestone that highlights an enduring partnership built on mutual support, professional excellence, and family.
Mr. Odiai serves as Deputy Head of News at Arise News TV, one of Nigeria’s leading television networks. He is also the CEO and Chief Editor of Ohibaba.Com, the online news platform he founded and continues to steer as a key voice in digital journalism. His career spans years of impactful reporting, newsroom leadership, and media innovation.
Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai is the owner and founder of Bukbeth Concepts Classic, a business reflecting her entrepreneurial drive and creative vision. Together, the couple has built a home grounded in shared values and quiet strength.
The family is blessed with three children — two boys and a girl — who form the heart of their journey.
Friends, colleagues, and well-wishers describe the Odiais as a model of resilience and partnership in both public and private life.
As they celebrate 17 years of marriage today, September 5, 2026, the couple is receiving warm congratulations from across the media and business communities. Their story stands as a reminder that lasting unions thrive on commitment, respect, and the everyday work of building a life together.
Happy anniversary to Mr. Ohi Odiai and Mrs. Elizabeth Ohi-Odiai.
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