BREAKING: Tinubu Abolishes Niger Delta, Sports Ministries; Establishes Regional Development Ministry

President Bola Tinubu has announced a major restructuring of his administration, abolishing the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Ministry of Sports Development.

In their place, a new Ministry of Regional Development will oversee various regional commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The decisions were taken today at the meeting of Federal Executive Council in Abuja.

Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, who disclosed this via his verified X-handle @aonanuga1965, said that the Ministry of Niger Delta Affairs and the Ministry of Sports Development have been abolished, and replaced by a new Ministry of Regional Development to oversee various regional commissions, including the Niger Delta Development Commission.

The National Sports Commission will now handle sports governance.

Additionally, the FEC approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy.

He tweeted: “President Tinubu and Federal Executive Council scrap Niger Delta Ministry and the Ministry of sports development. There will now be a ministry of regional development to oversee all the regional development commissions, such as Niger Delta Development Commission, North West Development Commission, South West Development Commission , North East Development Commission.

“The National Sports Commission will take over the role of the Ministry of Sports.

“The FEC also approved the merger of the Ministry of Tourism with the Ministry of Culture and Creative Economy”.

BIGPEN NIGERIA (https://bigpenngr.com) reports that the new move is likely to raise eyebrows, especially given Tinubu’s previous assurances to traditional rulers in the Niger Delta region that his administration is committed to the region’s development.

Tinubu’s administration had been emphasizing its commitment to Niger Delta development, with the President hosting the Minister of Niger Delta Development, Abubakar Momoh, to discuss ongoing initiatives. However, this restructuring move may indicate a shift in strategy.